It was your proverbial trap game for the Seattle Storm (11-7) and they paid the price in their 85 to 77 loss to an LA Sparks (7-10) team who had lost three games in a row. Having beaten the Sparks earlier in the season and riding a four-game win streak the Storm put in one of their worst performances of the season. A strong case can be made the Storm had their eyes set on next Wednesday’s match-up with Western Conference leader Las Vegas Aces.
OUTPLAYED WHEN IT MATTERED
Why do you ask? The Storm was outrebounded, outshot, and outplayed. In part, it was to the way the Storm started the game. Shooting 5-6 from the three-point line and jumping out to a 12-point lead at 19-7 five minutes into the game. Rather than pull away the Storm’s offense went cold and opened the door for the Sparks who outscored the home side 29-18 to take a 49-43 halftime lead.
The Storm seemed to have gathered it’s self when it won the third quarter 25-19, with Gabby Williams leading the way, scoring nine of her 11 points in the period. A late Seattle surge saw the Storm outscore LA 10-4 over the final three minutes, tying the game at 68-68 heading to the fourth.
COLD SHOOTING QUARTER
In last Wednesday’s 85-77 win over the Washington Mystics were able to score at will down the stretch and stifle the Mystics. Saturday night the Sparks turned the table on the Storm who managed just nine fourth-quarter points.
STORY OF THE GAME
- Seattle rallied back from a halftime deficit to take a fourth-quarter lead, but the Sparks outscored the Storm 12-3 over the final 6:49 of the game to pull out the win.
KEY STATS OF THE GAME
- The Sparks held the Storm to four made field goals and just nine points in the fourth quarter, Seattle’s lowest output in a quarter this season.
- Los Angeles outrebounded Seattle 41-26 including a 10-5 edge on the offensive glass.
STORM HIGHLIGHTS
- Breanna Stewart led the Storm with 28 points, scoring 18 or more points in her seventh-straight game. She connected on a season-high four three-pointers including three of those in a two-minute span early in the first quarter. She added seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block.
- Ezi Magbegor scored 16 points, adding four rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
- Gabby Williams dropped 11 points while contributing five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
SPARKS HIGHLIGHTS
- Nneka Ogwumike scored 24 points connecting 12-for-18 from the field, matching her mark for best shooting percentage in a WNBA game this year (min. 18 FGA).
- Three Sparks players finished the game in double-digits: Katie Lou Samuelson (17), Brittney Sykes (15) and Kristi Toliver (11).
- Liz Cambage added eight rebounds and scored three points.
NEXT GAME
The Storm returns to action on Wednesday, June 29, hosting the Las Vegas Aces at Climate Pledge Arena at 7 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcasted on Fox 13 and Prime Video.
Discover more from Cascadiasports.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
