By Wyatt Yearout
The Seattle Storm will seek its third trip to the WNBA Finals as it plays its first-ever Game 5 in a winner-take-all matchup with the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday. Tip-off at KeyArena is set for on 7 p.m./PT.
HOME TEAM: Seattle Storm
VISITING TEAM: Phoenix Mercury
SERIES COUNT: Series tied 2-2
TIP-OFF: 7 p.m./PT
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can watch the game on ESPNews and NBA TV, with live stats available at StormBasketball.com. Live updates will also be provided on Twitter by following @SeattleStorm.
LAST TIME OUT
The Storm dropped back-to-back games for the first time all season, falling to Phoenix, 86-84, in Game 4.
Breanna Stewart tallied 22 points and eight assists for the Storm, while Jewell Loyd nearly completed a triple-double, registering 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Seattle had the final possession with a chance to tie or take the lead, but could not get a shot off in the final seconds.
SERIES HISTORY
Phoenix defeated the Storm in Game 3, 86-66, to avoid the series sweep. DeWanna Bonner (27 points, 11 rebounds) and Brittney Griner (21 points, 11 rebounds) each posted a double-double in the Mercury win.
Seattle defeated the Mercury in Game 2 in overtime fashion by a final margin of 91-87, the same final score as Game 1. Stewart posted a team-high 27 points.
In the four-point Game 1 victory, Stewart shouldered the load offensively with 28 points and seven rebounds, while Sue Bird added a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.
Seattle is 5-7 all-time against the Phoenix Mercury in postseason play, including 4-2 at KeyArena. The Storm is looking to win its first series since 2010, when the team swept the Atlanta Dream (3-0) en route to winning its second WNBA championship.
PHOENIX IN GAME 4
Griner led the way for Phoenix once again in Game 4, finishing with a playoff best 29 points along with 12 rebounds. Bonner added 27 and eight rebounds as well.
Diana Taurasi bounced back from a quiet Game 3, posting 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Mercury scored just 15 points outside of its ‘Big 3’ of Taurasi, Griner and Bonner, including just two bench points.
Seattle led by as many as 17 before Phoenix outscored the Storm 25-7 in a seven-and-a-half minute stretch between the third and fourth quarters to go up by four (84-80) with 2:15 remaining.
UP NEXT
With a win, the Storm will lock up a trip to the WNBA Finals. Seattle would play either Atlanta or Washington, who are also facing one another in a winner-take-all contest on Tuesday at McCamish Pavilion, with tip-off set for 5 p.m. PT.