WNBA: Jewell Loyd faces off against the Seattle Storm for the first time

It’s a League Pass Sunday for the WNBA, with four games available to fans via the league’s streaming service.

After defeating the Dallas Wings on Saturday, the Atlanta Dream now host another winless squad, the Connecticut Sun, at 3 p.m. ET. The Chicago Sky, still searching for their first win as well, take on the Los Angeles Sparks at 6 p.m. ET. At the same time, the Washington Mystics and Phoenix Mercury face off, while the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm meet at 6 p.m. ET as well.

Here are the three must-follow storylines for Sunday:

Jewell’s back in the Emerald City

For the first time in her 11-year WNBA career, Jewell Loyd will play against the Seattle Storm.

Despite Loyd requesting a trade during the offseason after alleging mistreatment by the coaching staff, expect Seattle fans to express appreciation for the Gold Mamba and all she accomplished during her time in the Pacific Northwest, from a pair of titles to three All-WNBA honors to a scoring crown and more.

On the court, however, there may be less sentimentality and more spice. Unrivaled already provided a preview of the less-than-fond feelings between former Fighting Irish guards Loyd and Skylar Diggins. The guard duel certainly will attract the most eyeballs on Sunday afternoon.

Loyd’s Aces tenure is off to an uneven start. While she enjoyed a stellar shooting night as the Aces obliterated the Sun, going 6-for-9 from 3, she otherwise is 3-for-13 from behind the arc and shooting 33 percent from the field overall. And yes the sample size is small, but her assists and steals are also down, indicating she’s yet to offer much non-scoring value to Vegas. The Aces need a much better version of Loyd to achieve their ambitions. Possibly, the emotions involved in her return to Seattle will activate her full Gold Mamba mode.

On the other side, Diggins’ season is off to an excellent start, as she leads the Storm with 22 points and nine assists per game. If sustained, both of those marks would be career highs, as would the two steals and 1.3 blocks she’s also averaged through three games.

Of course, A’ja Wilson and Nneka Ogwumike also will have a lot to say about how this matchup unfolds. The pair are two of the most reliably productive players in the W, with Wilson tallying almost 23 points and 13 boards per game thus far, while Ogwumike’s putting up her own double-double of nearly 20 points and 11 boards.

Something good’s coming out of Washington, D.C.?

When youth is empowered, an ominous future can start to look exciting.

Down Brittney Sykes, Shakira Austin and Aaliyah Edwards, arguably the team’s best players, the Mystics gave the Aces all they could handle on Friday night, with Vegas requiring a fourth-quarter comeback to escape by three points.

Washington, once again, was led by their rookie duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Citron extended her efficient start to the season, shooting 4-for-6 from 3 on her way to a team-high 19 points. Iriafen earned her third-straight double-double as she netted 17 points and grabbed 13 boards.

As they seek to finish off this West Coast trip with win in Phoenix, it looks like the fantastic first-years will receive some extra help. Edwards, who has been dealing with a back injury, is probable to make her season debut, while Sykes, who sat out on Friday due to a leg injury, is listed as questionable.

Regardless, the date the desert will feature two of the league’s most pleasantly surprising teams. For the Mercury, Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally have been as outstanding as expected. Yet, Phoenix would not be surviving the absence of Kahleah Copper without the emergence of the likes of Monique Akoa Makani, Kathryn Westbeld and Lexi Held, all of whom are undrafted WNBA rookies who have logged at least 17 minutes per game through Phoenix’s first three contests.

Is a first win on the horizon?

Will the Sun or Sky earn that elusive first win on Sunday?

In the season’s early days, these squads have been league’s worst-performing teams, as the Sun have been outscored by an average of 12 points in their three losses while the Sky have lost their two games by an average of 30 points.

The Sun seem better situated to find the win column. On Friday, they put up a respectable fight against the Minnesota Lynx, leading after three quarters until Napheesa Collier showed why she should be feared in the fourth. They’ll be meeting a Dream team that will be playing a back-to-back. Tina Charles also could be comfortable in the cozy confines of Gateway Center. Last season, her lone with the Dream, she averaged a 15.5-point and 10.5-rebound double-double in home games.

The Sky, in contrast, must head out West to a meet a Sparks side that, after three-straight losses, likewise will be desperate for a win.

Game information

Connecticut Sun (0-3) vs. Atlanta Dream (2-2)

When: Sunday, May 25 at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Gateway Center in College Park, GA

How to watch: WNBA League Pass

Chicago Sky (0-2) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (3-1)

When: Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

How to watch: WNBA League Pass

Washington Mystics (2-2) vs. Phoenix Mercury (2-1)

When: Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: PHX Arena in Phoenix, AZ

How to watch: WNBA League Pass

Las Vegas Aces (2-1) vs. Seattle Storm (2-1)

When: Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA

How to watch: WNBA League Pass