Storm guard Jewell Loyd intends to play without fear in her 2nd WNBA season

That rookie year was pretty scary. Jewell Loyd can admit it now.

The former Notre Dame standout, who drew criticism from her college coach and peers when she left school a year early and was taken No. 1 overall by the Storm in the 2015 draft, has a clearer perspective on her past and future.

“Last year, I got to a point where I was in the WNBA and that was awesome,” she said. “This year, it’s I want to make a statement in the WNBA. I want to be among some of the greats. So that’s my mentality coming into this year.”

It’s not as if her foray into professional basketball was a bust. In fact, Loyd lived a redemptive tale last summer during a 34-game thrill ride.

The 5-foot-10, 148-pound guard began the season with the weighty expectations that accompany the top pick in the draft. After eight games, she averaged 5.9 points on 27.9 percent shooting and requested to be removed from the starting lineup.

“The beginning was a little bit of an eye-opener for her because she wasn’t head and shoulders above everybody athletically,” coach Jenny Boucek said. “Many nights she was going against people that were just as athletic and also bigger and stronger. So it took her a little while and that’s why I think she asked to start on the bench.”

Loyd, who was a reserve in 11 games before returning to the lineup, added: “It’s a really hard league. If you come in not focused and you’re kind of just going through the motions, then you’re going to get destroyed.”

Loyd finished fast and averaged 13.6 points in the final five games. She won the Rookie of the Year award and led all rookies with 10.7 points per game.

“Towards the second half of the season, everything started to click,” she said. “I understood the speed of the game and situations. I learned offensively where I can get my shots. I think it started off in practice, really, listening to our vets and taking everything in.”

During the WNBA offseason, Loyd averaged 14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 17 games for Galatasaray Odeabank in Istanbul, Turkey, which advanced to the EuroLeague Women semifinals.

Back in Seattle, Loyd is entrenched in the starting lineup and considered one of the Storm’s building blocks alongside rookie Breanna Stewart, this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick.

Stewart has commanded the spotlight early in preseason training camp, but Loyd’s continued development is essential if Seattle is to recover from last year’s 10-24 record and snap a two-year playoff drought.

In the past, she relied heavily on her quick first step and an ability to get to the basket. In the offseason, she worked to improve an unreliable perimeter shot.

Last year Loyd converted 20.8 percent (10 of 48) of her three-pointers for the Storm. And with her Turkish team, she shot 34.7 percent (25 of 72) from behind the line.

Boucek believes Loyd can develop into a lockdown defender, considering “her length, anticipation and quickness. She’s got really good defensive instincts.”

Six of the previous seven WNBA Rookie of the Year award winners captured all-league honors, which might provide a little foreshadowing on Loyd’s future.

“Basketball has been a part of my life forever,” she said. “I want to get on the court and just ball – not hold back and not be scared.

“I think last year, being a rookie, there was a lot of second-guessing – should I pass it to a vet? Now this year, it’s like I’m taking every opportunity to be great.”

Note

• The 12 players who will represent the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games will be announced Wednesday.

Three Storm players (Sue Bird, Stewart and Loyd) are among the 25 finalists.