With Nneka Ogwumike out Jewell Loyd leads Storm to first win of the season.

A determined Jewell Loyd broke out of a dismal two-game scoring slump to lead the Seattle Storm to an 85-75 win over the Washington Mystics.   With Nneka Oguwike sitting out due to an ankle injury Loyd torched the Mystics with 24 points, four rebounds and two assist effort to lead the Storm to their first win of the season.  Ogwumike  was averaging 22 points and 10.0 rebounds in  the Storm’s first two games

SLOW START

It took some patience Jewell to break out of her shooting slump. Loyd started miserably and it looked like she would add to her two-game slump where she made just  7- of -40 shots from the field and scored a total of 30 points. After missing her first six shots Loyd locked in and made six of her next thirteen shots from the field. Her aggressiveness on offense saw him make 12 of 14 free throws.

While Loyd led the way the win by the Storm was a team effort.  Ezi Magbegor recorded a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Skylar Diggins-Smith poured in 18 points and handed out five assists.

TEAM DEFENSIVE

In addition to a collective effort of the offensive end, the Storm were just as determined on the defensive end of the court. The Storm outrebounded the Mystics 43-29 with 14 rebounds on the offensive end.  The decisive rebounding edge saw the Storm convert 8 14 offensive rebounds.

STRONG QUARTER FOR THE MYSTICS

Despite being outrebounded, the Mystics could stay close to the Storm with mini-offensive runs.  The Mystics closed out the first half by scoring ten straight points and down just five points at 39-34. Washington then scored 30 points during the third quarter, leading by as many as five at 56-51 before the Storm got within 64-62 heading into the final 10 minutes.

The Mystics were back up four at 68-64 on a short jumper by Myisha Hines-Allen with 8:07 to play. Then guard Victoria Vivians, who has started all three games after joining Seattle as a free agent and finally got her first Storm points on a putback during the third quarter, nailed a 25-footer from the right of the lane for her first 3-pointer of the season, cutting the margin to 68-67.

Loyd then went to the line at the 7:16 mark and hit both, putting the Storm permanently in front, 69-68. Diggins-Smith hit a pair of free throws for a 71-68 lead, then on the next possession drove to the hoop and scooped in a banker off the backboard to make it 73-68.

 DEFENSE WINS THE GAME

Washington never came closer than four after that, the last time at 77-73 with 2:49 remaining on a pair of Karlie Samuelson free throws. Seattle rang up the next six points, effectively sealing it when Vivians stole the ball in the backcourt, got it head to Loyd, and Loyd hit Diggins-Smith for a driving lay-in and an 82-73 advantage with just 1:36 showing.

 The win by the Storm gave head coach Noelle Quinn her 50^th career win. The Storm finishes a three-game road trip and the second half of a back-to-back combo when they visit New York on Monday. Tip-off is at 4:00 p.m. Pacific time (Fox 13+ / KZJO, Prime Video-WA).

POST-GAME HIGHLIGHTS AND NOTES

STORM HIGHLIGHTS

• Jewell Loyd got off to a bit of a slow start in the game, but finished with a season-high 24 points. It marked her 98^th career game with 20+ points.
• Ezi Magbegor finished with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and 14th of her career.
• Mercedes Russell pulled down a season-high five rebounds, adding eight points and two steals. Her first board of the game moved her into 12^th all-time in Storm franchise history.
• Skylar Diggins-Smith earned her 750^th career rebound after finishing the afternoon with five boards. She added 18 points and five assists.            
• Seattle Head Coach Noelle Quinn picked up her 50^th win at the helm of Seattle to move past Dan Hughes for the third most wins in franchise history.

MYSTICS HIGHLIGHTS

• Ariel Atkins finished with a team-high 19 points for the Mystics, one of three players in double-figures followed by Karlie Samuelson with 13 and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough with 12.
• Rookie Aaliyah Edwards made her first career start and finished with career-highs of nine points and 11 rebounds.