LOYD SCORES 18, BUT STORM CAN’T HOLD OFF CONNECTICUT SWEEP
SEATTLE – Jewell Loyd scored 18 points and the Storm shot 50 percent from 3-point range, but Seattle failed to slow down the Connecticut Sun for the third time this season, falling 89-70 at home. The Storm and Sun have played to a sweep each of the last three seasons, with Connecticut claiming the series in 2017 and 2019.
The Sun, who uncharacteristically finished 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, ran up a franchise-record 58-point tab in the paint. Alyssa Thomas led all scorers with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Seattle’s offense, which had been stagnant in Sunday’s loss, started strong with seven points from Loyd, but Connecticut countered with a 10-0 run. Crystal Langhorne came off the bench to lead all reserves with 12 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers in the opening frame.
Turnovers, which had cost the Storm 28 points last time out against the Sun, proved once again to be an early source of frustration, as Courtney Williams scored off a steal to end the quarter with 10 points. Connecticut finished the game outscoring the Storm 19-0 on fast break points.
Seattle was rocky at the foul line, making just one of its first seven attempts until Courtney Paris converted a missed free throw into an and-one play to finish the first half within eight of the Sun.
The Sun cracked the game wide open in the third quarter with help from Alyssa Thomas, who nearly outscored the Storm by herself with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Williams was the only starter to play the final 10 minutes, as the Sun carried a 22-point lead into the final frame.
With the loss, Seattle falls to .500 for the first time since July 5. The playoff-bound Storm will play its final regular-season home game at Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday, Sept. 1 before embarking on a three-game road trip.
KEY STATS OF THE GAME
- After starting her last game 0-6 from the field, Jewell Loyd scored seven of Seattle’s first 10 points and finished with 18, her most since June 23. It was the fifth time this season that she led the team in scoring.
- The Sun scored a franchise-record 58 points in the paint. It was also the most paint points that the Storm had allowed in franchise history. Alyssa Thomas scored 20 of her 22 points in the paint.
SEATTLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Loyd connected on 4-of-5 shots from deep, marking her second game this season with at least four 3-pointers (5 on June 21 vs. Los Angeles).
- Crystal Langhorne connected on her first two attempts from 3-point range, her fifth game this season with multiple made 3-pointers. She led both benches with 12 points, her third-highest scoring output this season.
- Seattle finished 11-22 (50.0 pct) from 3-point range. Entering the night, the team was 4-0 this season when making at least 10+ 3-pointers.
- The Storm held Jonquel Jones, the only player in the league to be averaging a double-double, to just 10 points and three rebounds.
- Seattle connected on 11 shots from beyond the arc, the most since draining 12 on July 17 against Minnesota.
- In nine minutes of action, Storm reserve Courtney Paris recorded a season-high five rebounds.
- With the loss, the Storm drops to 15-15 for seventh place in the league. Seattle trails the Minnesota Lynx by half a game by nature of playing one fewer games.
CONNECTICUT HIGHLIGHTS
- The Sun swept the Storm, marking the first time a team has swept Seattle since 2017 (also Connecticut). The Storm swept the Sun in 2018.
- Courtney Williams scored 10 points in the first 10 minutes and finished with 17. She had combined for 16 points in the Sun’s first two contests against Seattle.
- For the 10th time this season, Alyssa Thomas led her team off the glass with 11 rebounds. She notched her sixth double-double of the season, matching her total from 2018, a single-season career high. Thomas finished with a game-high 22 points, her sixth 20-point outing this season.
- In three meetings this season, Alyssa Thomas has averaged 19.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game against Seattle. She has averaged 10.9 points and 7.7 rebounds against all other foes.
- After swiping a franchise-record 19 steals from the Storm on Aug. 16, the Sun once again took advantage of Storm miscues, scoring 20 points off 18 turnovers.
- Jonquel Jones picked up her fourth foul with 5:56 left in the third quarter
- Shekinna Stricklen, the 2019 WNBA Three-Point Contest winner, was held to six points and one attempt from 3-point range. She averaged 20.0 points per game in her first two outings against the Storm.
- With Stricklen’s one made three-pointer, she sits tied with Penny Taylor at 19th overall on the All-Time Three Pointers Made list. Stricklen and Taylor both have 410 career three-pointers made.
NEXT GAME
Come join the Storm for the final regular-season home contest on Sunday, Sept. 1 against the Atlanta Dream. Fan Appreciation Night tips off at 4 p.m. PT at Alaska Airlines Arena.