Storm Cruise to 97-81 Win Over the Sun

Seattle gets back into the win column with a big victory over Connecticut.

(Seattle, WA) - The Seattle Storm (10-6) rebounded from their disappointing performance on Tuesday against the Indiana Fever by controlling their game against the Connecticut Sun (2-14). Seattle led wire-to-wire and by as many as 31 points in the game before ending with a 97-81 victory.

This was a get-right game for the Storm, who needed it after they came out flat against the Fever. The Storm led by five after the first period, by 14 at halftime, and by 27 points entering the 4th quarter. They put the game away with their strong performance over the second and third periods, where they outscored the Sun 58-38.

Seattle had five players score in double figures. They were led in scoring by Skylar Diggins, who had 24 points on 8-14 FG shooting. Gabby Williams nearly had a triple-double and finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points, and Ezi Magbegor added 12 more. Dominique Malonga scored a career-high 11 points off the bench and pulled down five rebounds. Zia Cooke added nine points off the bench and played a season-high 24 minutes with Lexie Brown out of the game with an illness for the second consecutive game.

Both teams shot the ball well, with Seattle making 49% (34-69 FG) and Connecticut hitting 48% (30-63 FG). The Storm out-rebounded the Sun 34-28. Seattle also assisted on 27 of their 34 made field goals, as they did a great job of sharing the basketball. They outscored Connecticut 42-34 inside the paint. They also were a plus-six from the free throw line as they made 20-23 FT.

Connecticut Sun

The best news for the lowly Connecticut Sun is that they were (mostly) led by their younger players. Rookie Aneesah Morrow finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in 26 minutes. Second-year player, Jacy Sheldon, finished with 15 points on 5-6 FG shooting. Former Seattle Storm draft pick, Bria Hartley, finished with 19 points and tied rookie Saniya Rivers for a team-high six assists. Olivia Nelson-Ododa had a nice game as she continues the best season of her career, with 12 points and six rebounds. Tina Charles was limited to just seven points on 1-9 FG shooting.

To the Sun’s credit, they hung tough through the first 16 minutes of the game (1 1/2 quarters). They trailed by just four points with 4:17 left to go in the first half. The Storm ended the quarter on a 15-5 run and never looked back.

Connecticut shot the three-ball very well, knocking down 7-13 FG (54%) from beyond the arc. They also had more fast break points (18-15) and more second-chance points (9-5).

Game Breakdown

Skylar Diggins got into the lane for the pull-up jumper. Diggins found Ezi Magbegor in transition for the open layup. Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored with an AND1. Bria Hartley scored to put Connecticut ahead by one. The Storm used an 8-0 run to go ahead 14-8. They got back-to-back three-pointers from Diggins. Tina Charles made a nice jump hook and then was fouled on the next possession, where she made two free throws. Bria Hartley finished a fast break layup to cut the Storm’s lead to two at 16-14.

Dominique Malonga scored inside the paint. Gabby Williams was fouled on a drive to the rim and made both free throws. Williams got a steal and lobbed the ball ahead to Zia Cooke for the transition layup. Aneesah Morrow knocked down a three-ball. Charles and Malonga exchanged free throws on each end. The Storm led 24-19 at the end of the first period.

Jacy Sheldon got to the rim to begin the second quarter. Gabby Williams answered with a corner three. Nelson-Ododa made a nice turnaround jumper. Malonga scored again near the rim. Alysha Clark was fouled and made one of two free throws. Diggins was fouled a couple of times and made three of four. Aneesah Morrow made a couple of layups. Diggins and Williams each scored again.

Bria Hartley made a basket to cut Seattle’s lead down to four at 37-33. The Storm pushed their lead back to nine as they got fouled in transition. Bria Hartley picked up a technical foul. Skylar and Nneka made all three free throws. Magbegor was fouled and made both free throws. Ogwumike scored at the rim to put Seattle ahead by 13. Morrow made another three-pointer. Magbegor grabbed an offensive rebound and made the putback layup. Sheldon was fouled and scored again at the line. Coach Quinn sent Dominique Malonga back in with under five seconds to play. It must have been a drawn-up play because they got the ball ahead to Dominique, and she scored on a short jumper right before the halftime buzzer. Seattle led 52-38 at the midway point.

Jacy Sheldon scored down the baseline and was fouled for the AND1. Seattle answered with a 10-0 run. Diggins made a pull-up jumper, and Erica Wheeler connected on a three-ball. Magbegor made two huge rejections in a row. The second led to an open fast break layup. Ogwumike hit a corner three and then a nice little jump hook.

Seattle pushed their lead to 27 points after Gabby and Nneka each made shots from beyond the arc. Bria Hartley and Jacy Sheldon knocked down two three-pointers. Nelson-Ododa made another tough jumper in the paint over Malonga.

After the Sun cut the deficit down to 19, the Storm’s defense led to a 6-0 run. Steals by Gabby Williams and Zia Cooke led to fast break layups. Diggins scored with an off-balanced shot through contact for the AND1. Morrow and Hartley scored again for Connecticut. Erica Wheeler drilled a three-pointer on Seattle’s final possession of the period. The Storm led 82-55 at the end of the third period.

Lindsay Allen made a nice jumper for the Sun. Skylar was fouled on another made shot. Cooke got to the rim for two. Jacy Sheldon hit another three. Malonga banked a deep two off the backboard and in. With the Storm leading 91-60, the Sun finished the game on a 21-6 run.

Despite having a couple of injury scares in the final quarter (rolled her ankle and was poked in the eye), it was great to see Dominique Malonga play nearly the entire 4th quarter. Malonga played a season-high 20 minutes and scored a career-high 11 points.

With Seattle in blowout territory, it was great to see Seattle’s other rookie, Mackenzie Holmes, play over seven minutes in the final period. Holmes scored the first basket of her WNBA career on a feed from Erica Wheeler. She was also credited with an assist, rebound, and blocked shot. Both Skylar Diggins and Coach Noelle Quinn mentioned how happy they were that she scored her first WNBA points.

Ezi Magbegor played less than 20 minutes, and Nneka Ogwumike played only 23 minutes. That’ll be helpful as the team should be well-rested for their Sunday road game against the Golden State Valkyries.

Final Box Score

Up Next

The Storm head out on the road for a four-game trip, starting with the Golden State Valkyries (8-7) on Sunday, June 29th at 5:30 PM.

Part 2

Part 2 will include additional thoughts, quotes, and discussion from Friday’s game against the Connecticut Sun. It’ll be sent exclusively to paid subscribers tomorrow morning.

Notes:
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