"I mean, that’s just part of it, right?" Raman said.
"Young bigs — that’s always kind of a thing that young players have to get used to. She’s what, like a sophomore, junior, in college age, right?"
The coaching staff emphasized their commitment to developing the 20-year-old center's defensive positioning without picking up quick whistles.
"Dom is just so far along that we might forget that she’s 20 years old.
>>> Host Dave McCann Reveals Backstage Chaos at Stadium of Fire
But what she’s able to do out there is really phenomenal, and so we keep encouraging her and keep working with her on just being able to defend without fouling.
… Just takes time to get used to that with the big minutes that she’s playing now," Raman said.
Seattle managed to pull within three points in the final quarter before Portland executed a 5-0 run to secure the victory, leaving the Storm head coach to reflect on a mismatched offensive display.
"Some of the shots we got were really good shots, and kind of in-and-out, just didn’t fall, and I thought we generated some really good looks," Raman clarified.
"On the other side of it, there were possessions where we were a little bit stagnant, got a little stuck at certain points."
The players pointed directly to defensive lapses and rebounding differentials as the primary factors that prevented them from sustaining their comeback efforts late in the game.
"We need to lock in in the defensive end, because those rebounds — that’s what killed us tonight, the rebounds and the fouls," said Dominique Malonga, Storm center.
Despite the negative result, the roster expressed confidence in their competitive spirit as they continue searching for strategic consistency during the regular season.
"We’re trying to figure out the identity of the team," said Natisha Hiedeman, Storm guard. "We always play to the end, so obviously proud of our fight."
The squad remains focused on long-term progression as they prepare to transition into the next phase of their competitive schedule.
"But yeah, we’re trying to get to the top of the mountain," Hiedeman said.
>>> Chelan Hills Wildfire Burns 20,000 Acres, Destroys Dozens of Homes
Seattle will now begin a five-game road trip starting Monday in Los Angeles, with their next home appearance scheduled for July 20.
