Storm cause 4th quarter nightmares for Atlanta, comeback for 68-67 win over Dream
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – In their first game without athletic forward Gabby Williams and rookie European point guard Ivana Dojkic, the Seattle Storm won one of the more improbable games of the season and tallied just their third home victory this year. This contest was a physical battle between the two teams, while both sides struggled shooting from the field and from the free throw line. Atlanta controlled three quarters of this contest before Seattle locked in defensively to hold the Dream to just seven points in the final frame, including a scoreless streak of seven minutes. In clutch time, it was the Storm’s best players who propelled the team to victory as Jewell Loyd and Ezi Magbegor both poured in nine points each in the final ten minutes.
Sloppy and physical first half
The first half of this contest between the Storm and Dream saw both teams in a physical battle with numerous fouls and poor shooting numbers. Seattle was especially poor shooting from the field, shooting a dismal 13% after the first quarter and slightly improved 27% at halftime. The Storm offense looked a mess with frantic possessions that left them looking unprepared on offense, failing to get into the paint and forcing shots instead of getting into sets and letting the game come to them. Their defensive play and relentless approach with the basketball kept them in this game, ensuring that they weren’t facing a giant deficit at the halfway mark, but it was clear that the Storm were not performing to their best ability on offense and if they were to do that, they’d surely have a lead in this game.
Third quarter lapse
The third quarter of this game saw the Dream extend their lead into double digits, as Atlanta went up by 13 points over Seattle. Dream guard Allisha Gray found her spot, scoring nine points in the quarter with five from the free throw line while Aari McDonald provided seven points off the bench. The Storm committed six personal fouls in that frame, giving their opponent free trips to the charity stripe as mistakes seemed to be compounding, with Seattle slightly improving upon their poor shooting percentage from the first half. Jewell Loyd continued to largely struggle from the field, only making two of the eight shots that she took during that frame with the rest of her team struggling to find traction on the offensive end as well.
Atlanta’s worst nightmare
Going into the final quarter up by 13 points and with the Storm sputtering along on offense, hitting an extended offensive lull like what we’ve seen throughout their 2023 campaign, this game almost certainly seemed headed in favor of the Dream. Atlanta had been getting to the free throw line and getting some key Seattle players, like Jordan Horston, into considerable foul trouble. But, despite the things working against Seattle such as their poor offensive form in this game, Jewell Loyd not shooting like herself, and Atlanta getting to the free throw line, the Storm remained within a single digit deficit. Seattle’s resilient manner, despite all that has been stacked against them, continues to keep them in games and did so tonight.
The Storm holding the Dream to that seven-minute scoreless stretch in the fourth quarter was critical in this comeback effort. After Atlanta’s Haley Jones made a layup with 9:07 to play, Seatle went to work as their bigs of Ezi Magbegor and Mercedes Russell were getting to the free throw line and minimally chipping away at the deficit. From there, it was Magbegor and Jewell Loyd who were responsible for the clutch time buckets as Seattle got closer and closer to their first lead of the game. An Ezi Magbegor layup with 2:19 to play gave the Storm their first lead of the game, and although they lost that lead 15 seconds later, Seattle was ready to get the win. Things sat at the score of 64-63 until 13 seconds left, when Jewell Loyd made a driving layup. A few free throws from Sami Whitcomb gave the Storm the necessary lead, as a Rhyne Howard three-pointer brought the game within a point. Seattle was able to wash away the next few ticks, and this game was over. The Storm had a miraculous comeback win.
Storm roster shake up
Seattle has received some roster shake up yesterday and today, as they found out that forward Gabby Williams had suffered a left foot stress fracture during the loss to the Connecticut Sun and would be out for four to six weeks, effectively ending her season. The other shock move was that Seattle will be without Ivana Dojkic, who left the team the day of this game as she has a “prior commitment" with her team in Europe and will head overseas to prepare for the upcoming season with them. It’s going to be tough for the Storm to make up what Williams brought to the team on the court, considering her defensive ability, how she crashes the boards, and her distribution, but they will have Gabby around still to support her teammates as best she can. Dojkic’s departure isn’t much of a surprise, given that she was getting very limited minutes if any in recent weeks.
Quick notes
Seattle saw Atlanta lead by as many as 16 points (56-40) at the 1:52 mark in the third quarter but proceeded to outscore the Dream 28-11 for the rest of the game, claiming a lead for the first time with 2:19 left on the clock and rallying through the end to beat the Dream 68-67.
Seattle’s fourth quarter defensive effort led the team to the final win.
Atlanta’s seven points in the fourth quarter were the least by the Storm this season.
Seattle held the dream to 3-of-17 shooting in the fourth quarter
Seattle outrebounded Atlanta 14-7 in the final period, holding the Dream to zero offensive rebounds.
Although both teams turned the ball over six times equally, the Storm scored seven points off Atlanta’s miscues while allowing none from its own.
Jewell Loyd finished with 19 points, nine of those in the third quarter, including five in the last three minutes to make it a one-possession game. Loyd was two rebounds shy of a double-double and added one assist and one steal.
Ezi Magbegor recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds, supplemented by two assists, two blocks and one steal. Magbegor came in clutch with a cutting layup at the 2:19 mark in the fourth quarter to give the Storm the first lead of the game.
Sami Whitcomb was the third Storm player in double figures with 11 points, including two free throws with .5 on the clock to cement Seattle’s win. Whitcomb contributed across the board adding six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block.
Mercedes Russell led the bench with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting, with five rebounds, two assists and one steal.
What’s next?
Following today’s thrilling comeback victory over the Dream, the Storm will look to build a winning streak as they continue this four-game homestand when the Phoenix Mercury come to town on Sunday, August 13th. Tipoff at Climate Pledge Arena between Phoenix and Seattle is at 12PM PST, as the Storm look to stifle a Mercury team that defeated the mighty Connecticut Sun tonight while Seattle was making their comeback against Atlanta. Despite both teams struggling this season, sitting as the bottom two teams in the Western Conference, Phoenix and Seattle always tend to put on a good show against each other.