STORM BEAT VALKYRIES FOR THE FIRST IN THREE TRIES
After losing the first two games to the upstart Golden State Valkyries, the Seattle Storm were intent on setting things right at home. In the first two games, both at Golden State, the Storm outpaced and outhustled a physical team that has not backed down to any team in the league.
The Valkyries have played scrappy, physical basketball all season and have surprised the league with their resilience. The Valkyries entered the Wednesday matinee with 10 wins and 11 losses.
STARTING WITH ENERGY
In the first two games, the Storm were outscored 160 to 120 and in the last match between the two teams, the Storm were outscored 84-57. In both games, the Valkyries were the quicker and more aggressive team on both ends of the court.
“ I feel like the resolve was there with each possession, in each quarter, we wanted our defense to be locked in because our offense has not been that good, said Nneka Ogwumike, who scored a game-high 22 points and moved to sixth on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list with 6,896points
TIGHT FIRST HALF
A back-and-forth first quarter ended with visitors holding a 15-14 lead. With the focused energy on both ends of the court, the Storm outscored the Valkyries 17-16 in the second quarter. A hot-shooting Ogwumike scored seven of the Storm’s 17 points. The two teams went into the halftime break knotted at 31-all. The first half saw nine lead changes, five ties, and no team led by more than five points.
WHEELER LEADS THE WAY
The Storm continued their defensive focus and intent to play downhill to start the third quarter. An energized Eric Wheeler led the downhill charge. Wheeler scored the Storm’s first seven points to start the quarter and finished with a quarter-high 11 points. Ball-hawking defense saw the Storm hold the Valkyries to just 13 points in the quarter. The Valkyries made 4 of 16 shot attempts from the field. They made 5 of 13 shots. The quarter ended with the Storm leading 48-44.
The Storm started the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run and extended their lead to 54-46. Back-to-back three-pointers by Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini cut the Storm’s lead to just two points with 6:38 left in the game. After a timeout by Noelle Quinn, the Storm refocused and rode the Ogwumike to the promised land. The Storm finished the game with a 13-6 run with Ogwumike scoring nine of the team’s final 13 points.
“I thought that the Valkyries had zero second chance points and that our energy, crashing the boards, winning the 50/50 balls was the key to this game, “said head Quinn after the game. “ You have to match or exceed their physicality, and I thought that we did that today.”
ALL-STAR BREAK
The Storm and the rest of the WNBA will pause league play for the upcoming All-Star Break. Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, and Skylar Diggins will be playing in the game itself, and Wheeler will participate in the Skills Challenge.
“This break comes at a good time. This is a good time to recharge. I think it will be helpful when we, as a team, come out and attack what we call our third quarter, “ said Ogwumike. The Storm will return to league play on Tuesday, July 22nd, when they host the Dallas Wings.
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