Ezi Magbegor's defensive wizardry is reaching new heights

Magbegor has become one of the most feared paint presences in the WNBA this season, and locking down a starting position with the Seattle Storm.

In her third season with the Seattle Storm, Ezi Magbegor has blossomed into a vital piece of Seattle’s roster, alongside the likes of superstars Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd and Sue Bird. Whilst it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Seattle this season — highlighted by a 1-3 start — the play of Magbegor has been a shining light, leading the team to a steady 7 wins and 5 losses.

Magbegor currently leads the WNBA in blocks with three per game, ahead of A’ja Wilson (2.3) and Liz Cambage (2). Her impact on games is undeniable, and opponents have to be fully aware of Magbegor’s presence in the paint before driving to the bucket. She is now one of the major cornerstones of Seattle’s defence.

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Magbegor’s importance to the Storm can’t be underestimated, with the 22 year old Australian owning the second-best net rating (+7.3) on the team – behind only Stewart (+8.4) – with an offensive rating of 99.6 points per 100 possessions and a defensive rating of 92.4 per 100 possessions.

The Magbegor-Stewart pairing is deadly. They have the best net rating for two-player line-ups (minimum 140 minutes played together) on the team. Boasting a 105.9 offensive rating and a suffocating 87.6 defensive rating, their net rating of +18.3 is by far the best on the team, and the second-best line-up is Magbegor and Gabby Williams, with a net rating of 14.3.

After a recent win over Atlanta – a game in which Magbegor finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks – teammate Jewell Loyd spoke about the Magbegor-Stewart pairing.