Storm Erases 25-Point Deficit to Tie Game; Seattle’s Record Stands at 8-14
SEATTLE – After overcoming a 25-point deficit to tie the game in the final minute, the Seattle Storm fell 91-88 to the Chicago Sky on Sunday at KeyArena. Reigning league MVP Elena Delle Donne scored 35 points, including a three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining that clinched the road victory for Chicago.
Trailing by 22 after the first quarter and by 24 at halftime, the Storm used a dominant third quarter to climb back into the game. Seattle still trailed by 12 with 3:30 to go in the game, but Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird led the furious comeback that saw the Storm tie it up on a Bird three-pointer with 18 seconds to go. Delle Donne hit her winning three-pointer on an isolation play, and she blocked Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis’ attempt on the other end as Seattle tried to get another tying shot off.
Bird tied a season high with 24 points, including four three-pointers, scoring 10 total points in the fourth quarter. Stewart added 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Jewell Loyd recorded a new career high with 10 assists. Mosqueda-Lewis continued her strong month of July by scoring 12 points off the bench for the second straight game.
The Storm drops to 8-14 on the year, while Chicago improves to 10-12. The two teams will meet twice more this season – on Sept. 2 in Chicago and on Sept. 18 at KeyArena.
Delle Donne and Cheyenne Parker each scored a pair of baskets as part of an 8-2 start for Chicago, and the Sky would only increase its advantage from there. The edge was 17-4 after a Delle Donne turnaround jumper, as the Chicago star began the game 5-of-5 from the floor for 11 quick points. Courtney Vandersloot came off the bench and hit a trio of three-pointers as part of the Sky’s 6-for-8 start from behind the arc. Chicago’s lead was 36-14 after the first quarter.
The Storm was getting open looks but not able to convert them, including an 0-for-4 start by Stewart. Seattle scored the first five points of the second frame to trim the deficit, but Delle Donne would find the touch once again, finishing the period with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Chicago outrebounded the Storm 26-12 in the fist half and held a 56-32 advantage at the break. Seattle shot just 30.6 percent from the field in the half.
Delle Donne drained a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half, but Chicago failed to score for the next four minutes and Seattle went on an 11-0 run to pull within 14. The Storm continued to cut into the lead, using a huge third quarter to make it 70-60 heading into the final frame. Stewart scored 10 of her 22 points, including a pair of three-pointers, as part of Seattle’s dominant third quarter.
Seattle hosts its final home game before the Olympic break on Wednesday against San Antonio. The Storm then plays at the defending champion Minnesota Lynx on Friday.