By Wyatt Yearout

The Seattle Storm took down the undefeated Washington Mystics by a final score of 81-77 to win its fourth-straight game.

Jewell Loyd led the way for the Storm with 27 points and eight rebounds, marking Loyd’s fourth consecutive game with 20 or more points.

Breanna Stewart added 25 points, including a season-high 11 field goals, along with five rebounds.

DEFINING MOMENTS

The Storm obtained a small lead in the first quarter, but Washington was able to battle back in the second and cut the lead to just two at halftime, 41-39.

With just two minutes left in the fourth, Seattle was up 76-74 when Washington tied the game off an Ariel Atkins jump shot.

The next trip down, Loyd drove down the lane for a layup to give a two point edge back to Seattle.

Atkins was fouled on the next Washington possession and split the pair of free throws, cutting the Storm lead to just a single point at 78-77.

In need of a big bucket, Seattle worked the ball around and Stewart made an extra pass that eventually led to a wide open jumper for Loyd that she knocked down to extend the lead to three at 80-77 with 6.9 seconds left.

Washington had the ball with a chance to tie, but Natasha Howard intercepted a pass and was then fouled, giving her two chances to put the game out of reach. Howard split the pair, but the one make gave the Storm a four-point advantage with 0.9 seconds left, sealing the game for Seattle.

HUGHES’ TAKE 

Between opening night and now, Seattle has already been in many types of scenarios, whether its fighting from behind late or keeping a lead that they obtained early. Head Coach Dan Hughes is pleased that his team has been able to respond to all those different types of situations throughout the year.

“It’s a really good sign that we are learning a lot early in the season, and finding a way to win. Sometimes you learn those lessons by losing, but I think players down the stretch have really done a good job for us to turn the tide our way.”

NOTES

• With the win, Hughes improved to 4-1 overall and notched the best start for a first-year head coach in franchise history. In 2008, Brian Agler went 3-2 in his first five games, while Anne Donovan (2003) and Jenny Boucek (2015) issued 2-3 records in their first five contests. Lin Dunn, Seattle’s first-ever head coach, started 1-4 during the 2000 campaign. Gary Kloppenburg, one of the Storm’s current assistant coaches, started 4-1 as an interim head coach when he took over in Aug. 2017.
• Seattle won despite shooting a season-low 10 free throws, connecting on eight of them.
• Sue Bird registered five or more assists for the third time this season, logging a game-high seven in 24 minutes of play.
• Seattle is starting 4-1 or better for the fifth time in franchise history. The Storm also went 4-1 in its first five games in 2017, 2010, 2008 and 2005.
• For the first time in her career, Loyd scored 20 or more points in four straight games, finishing with a game-high 27 on 10-for-18 shooting. She also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.
• Loyd has now connected on 28 straight free throws after going 4-for-4 tonight (28-for-29 on the season). 

UP NEXT
The Storm will be back on action on Thursday for its second matchup of season against the Las Vegas Aces. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m./PT at Key Arena.