By Wyatt Yearout
The Seattle Storm concluded its road trip by defeating the Atlanta Dream, 95-86, to extend its winning streak to four games and improve to 14-5 on the season.
Breanna Stewart led the way for Seattle, netting 29 points to go along with nine rebounds.
Sue Bird tallied her 26th-career double posting 18 points and 10 assists. Bird’s performance marked a season-high in points as well as her sixth-straight game with nine assists or more.
DEFINING MOMENTS
The Storm rattled off a 14-0 run near the end of the second period to take a 19-point lead into the third quarter. Alysha Clark (11), Stewart (15) and Bird (10) all posted double-digit points in the first half.
Atlanta was able to get the offense going in the third quarter, at one point cut the lead to six points late in the third period. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis knocked down a big three-pointer to close out the third to extend the Storm lead back to nine entering the fourth.
The Storm and Dream went back and forth for the opening five minutes of the period, with the Seattle lead hovering around 10 points. A 5-0 Storm run extended the lead to 15 with around four minutes left in the third, putting the game out of reach. Atlanta cut the lead to 10 multiple times in the final minutes but couldn’t foster a comeback.
HUGHES’ TAKE
Head coach Dan Hughes thought his team’s unselfishness along with his balanced scoring was key in the victory.
“I thought we really moved the ball well. Anytime we shoot 51 percent on the road against statistically the best defensive team, that’s (huge).”
NOTES
- Bird’s second steal of the night, coming at 4:47 to play in the third quarter, moved her into the WNBA’s top five all-time, with a career total of 636 takeaways. She now has 636 for her career and needs 22 more to pass no. 4 Sheryl Swoopes (657 steals).
- Stewart has scored 25 or more points nine times this season.
- Natasha Howard collected her third double-double of the season, posting 10 points and 11 boards to go along with three blocks.
- Bird poured in a season-high 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting to go along with 10 assists for her 26th-career double-double and third of the season. She is now five points away from 6,000 career points, and will become the 8th WNBA player to surpass that plateau.
- Bird has now handed out nine or more assists in six-straight games, accumulating a total of 60 dimes in those games.
- Alysha Clark scored 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting, her fifth game in double figures this season.
UP NEXT
The Storm returns to KeyArena for its next matchup with the Washington Mystics on July 8. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m./PT.