MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – Despite a solid second half from Natasha Howard, the Storm couldn’t overcome a sluggish start against the Minnesota Lynx, falling in its first road contest of the 2019 campaign, 72-61. With both teams missing stars from their respective 2017 and 2018 WNBA title runs, Lynx guard Odyssey Sims led her new team with 15 points and five assists, while Seattle’s Natasha Howard tallied a game-high 18 points, including 14 points in the paint.Sylvia Fowles, the 2017 WNBA MVP and Finals MVP, led the efforts on the glass with 13 rebounds, finishing three points shy of a double-double.

Relinquishing an early 4-2 lead, Seattle entered the second frame down by 13 points. Jewell Loyd put together a particularly strong second quarter for the Storm with eight points on 4-of-8 shooting. Yet after 20 minutes of action, the Storm had tallied just 24 points on 30.3% (10-33) shooting, marking its fewest points in either half since Sept. 13, 2015 (24 points in the second half vs. San Antonio).

Though at one point trailing by as many as 20 points, the Storm was able to finish within 11 points of Minnesota thanks to a strong effort from Natasha Howard, who poured in 14 points (6-9 FG) in the second half.

DEFINING MOMENTS

– Jewell Loyd shook off an 0-4 start in the first 10 minutes of play by scoring eight of the Storm’s 20 points in the second quarter.

– Anriel Howard, the Storm’s 2019 second-round draft pick (24th overall), made her WNBA debut subbing in forKaleena Mosqueda-Lewis at the 3:15 mark in the first quarter. The former SEC standout hit a 3-point jumper with 53.2 seconds remaining in the game (72-61).

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

– After a standout season opener, Seattle center Natasha Howard led the Storm with 18 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field while grabbing five rebounds.

– After turning the ball over 10 times in the first half, the Storm limited its mistakes in the second half and while converting Minnesota’s 14 turnovers into 13 points.

KEY STATS OF THE GAME

– After Seattle started 0-8 behind the arc, Sami Whitcomb connected for the team’s first long-range shot of the night with 9:27 left in the game. The team finished 2-15 from deep; last season, the Storm made at least four 3-pointers every game.

– On the defensive end, the Storm held promising Lynx rookie Napheesa Collier scoreless after her nine-point effort in the first quarter. The 2019 sixth overall draft pick was coming off a 27-point performance against the Chicago Sky in her WNBA debut.

– The Lynx held the Storm to 36.4% shooting, marking the second game in a row Minnesota has held a team to 40% or lower. Seattle shot under 35% from the field in the first half for the second straight game.

UP NEXT

– The Storm gears up for back-to-back visits to the Atlanta Dream on Friday, May 31 at 4:30 p.m. PT. and the Chicago Sky on Saturday, June 1 at 5 p.m. PT. The Storm returns home on Tuesday, June 4 to meet with the Minnesota Lynx for the second time this season at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Wash. at 7 p.m. PT.