The Seattle Storm came out strong in a dominating 91-63 victory over the Minnesota Lynx, avoiding a season sweep. Nneka Ogwumike had an impressive performance, tying her season high with 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting. This was a big improvement from her previous game where she only scored nine points, a season low. Skylar Diggins-Smith also contributed with 10 points and 12 assists, while Jewell Loyd added 14 points and Ezi Magbegor chipped in 10 points with eight rebounds for Seattle.
With Napheesa Collier out due to injury for Minnesota, Kayla McBride stepped up and led the way with 27 points. However, no other player on the Lynx scored more than seven points. Dorka Juhasz, Collier’s replacement, scored four points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Seattle maintained a 13-point lead going into the second half, but McBride’s strong performance in the third quarter narrowed the gap to 10 points. The Storm regrouped during a timeout and went on a seven-point run to slow down Minnesota’s momentum. This trend continued throughout the game, with Seattle consistently responding to any Lynx comeback attempts.
Although Minnesota started the game strong with a 9-2 lead, Seattle quickly turned the tide by scoring 32 of the next 45 points. Ogwumike’s jumper extended the Storm’s lead to 34-22 with 7:42 left in the second quarter. The Lynx struggled to score for the first five minutes of the quarter and found themselves trailing by as many as 18 points before halftime, with Ogwumike scoring 12 straight points during a crucial stretch.
In the fourth quarter, Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve chose to play without McBride, allowing Seattle to extend their lead by scoring the first nine points of the period, including three consecutive three-pointers by Sami Whitcomb. This strong finish helped the Storm secure a much-needed victory and avoid a season sweep by the Lynx.
This win was significant for Seattle, as they had previously lost to the Lynx three times this season. Additionally, the Storm’s victory by at least 20 points marked the fourth time they achieved such a substantial margin of victory this season. It was a well-deserved and impressive performance by the Seattle Storm, showcasing their resilience and determination on the court.