Storm run out of time on comeback attempt; lose second straight to Mystics, 71-65
By Bel Garcia, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - A Seattle Storm Sunday celebration for Sue Bird saw Climate Pledge Arena dressed in graphics to honor the legend, as her jersey got lifted into the rafters. With a commemorative bobblehead, on court graphic, and Sue Bird silhouette warm up shirts, the Storm were ready to kick off the game while honoring the greatest player in WNBA history. Seattle shooting guard Jewell Loyd was listed as probable prior to the game but was upgraded to available within thirty minutes to tip off, being placed into the starting lineup. She got some handles and shooting work with Phil Handy, a trainer she works with in the offseason, prior to being listed as available and had no signs of foot pain. However, a well-known name was still listed as OUT for the rematch, as Washington’s Elena Delle Donne was downgraded to not available due to neck tightness.
The opening tipoff between the Seattle Storm and the Washington Mystics for their second game of the weekend (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)
A Rough Start
With three minutes elapsed in the first quarter, the Storm remained unable to put points on the board, as the Mystics went on a 10-0 run to increase their lead to 22 points. Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn has been vocal through the season regarding the lineup still being undecided, but there were some lineup changes to the starting five today. Storm rookie Jordan Horston made her WNBA starting debut. Meanwhile, newly acquired Joyner Holmes was subbed in down 26 points in the second quarter for her Storm debut in her second stint with the team. Not much was going right on offense in the first quarter for Seattle, as the Storm had some costly turnovers and weren’t very active on the boards to attempt second chance points. Rookie mistakes – a double dribble violation, travels, and a shot clock violation didn’t help the Storm’s cause. The Washington Mystics once again found a rhythm from beyond the arc, but were shooting better from the three than they did from the field in both quarters, ending the half 8-14 and with a 25 point lead.
Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor had another quality game, and is looking like the teams second scoring option behind Jewell Loyd (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
It's Rally Time!
Seattle had to dig themselves out of a hole but managed to do so going on a 17-0 run of their own to keep themselves in the game. After struggling for most of the half with only 3 points on 1 for 8 shooting, Loyd finally saw shots going in, tripling the number of points she had by the beginning of the fourth quarter. Ezi Magbegor, who was coming of a career-high 24 points in the first of the doubleheader against the Mystics once again held a block party, this time with 4 blocks, she now streaking 5 games with 3 or more. She continued to be aggressive in the paint forcing herself in for the left-handed hooks and layups. The difference in today was the aggressiveness on rebounds as well for Magbegor.
Seattle Storm rookie forward Jordan Horston got her first career start today (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Horston, who was named a starter today, struggled on some of her offensive possessions but had a “quiet” ten points and was once again aggressive on the defensive end with two blocks of her own. The rookie magic continued for point guard Ivana Dojkic, who contributed big minutes off the bench. Dojkic brought the game within three points with a heaping 2:48 minutes remaining in the game as she was fouled at the three and made all of them after a flagrant foul call. After several missed possessions, to no fault of the Storm or Loyd, Kia Nurse received a technical making a play on the ball that flipped Washington’s Ariel Atkins into a cartwheel. The offense ran through Jewell Loyd to end the game, in scenarios of a close game you put the ball in your best player’s hand, and that is what Seattle did. It just was not enough, as the Mystics got to shoot free throws increasing their lead and scathing to a 71-65 win. Seattle heads to the road for the next week, visiting Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Dallas before returning to Climate Pledge Arena on June 20th.
The city of Seattle showed out for Sue Bird’s jersey retirement ceremony, taking place after the game and lasting longer than the game itself (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)