Loyd and Magbegor pace Storm to fifth win in last seven games
SEATTLE – The energy inside Climate Pledge Arena was amplified on Sunday as Seattle welcomed its rival, the Phoenix Mercury, with a chance to sweep the season series for just the third time ever.
After a head-to-head battle just last week saw the Storm escape Phoenix with a six-point win, Seattle once again buckled down late and completed the sweep with an 81-71 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Jewell Loyd led the charge for the Storm, putting up a team-high 24 points including 23 in the first half, her fourth time logging 20+ points in a half this season and the sixth time in her WNBA career.
Ezi Magbegor, who was celebrating her 24th birthday on Sunday, tallied 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding three blocks, two steals and seven rebounds.
Seattle led through much of the first half and held a 57-44 lead at the 6:04 mark of the third quarter. But Phoenix used a 13-0 run over the next 3-1/2 minutes to tie the game at 57 with just over two minutes to go in the period.
The Storm responded, scoring the final six points of the third to start a 13-0 run of its own, taking a 70-57 lead on a Magbegor layup with 8:15 to play. Seattle held on from there to clinch the victory—its fifth in its last seven games overall.
Seattle demonstrated balanced scoring throughout the contest. Every Storm player who saw the floor on Sunday afternoon recorded at least two points. Seattle’s bench outscored the Mercury’s bench, 28-7.
Kia Nurse came off the bench and erupted for ten points against her former team, her first time logging double-digit scoring since Jul. 6. Six of Nurse’s points poured in from three-point range.
Mercedes Russell took over in the middle and collected a game-high ten rebounds alongside the Mercury’s Brittney Griner, who recorded the only game double-double with 12 points. Russell tacked on eight points to compliment her boards.
Seattle dominated off the glass with 38 rebounds, compared to Phoenix’s 31.
With its win against Phoenix, the Storm has won five of its last seven matchups, and two-straight on its home floor.
Up Next
The Storm will close its four-game homestand against the Minnesota Lynx on Friday, Aug. 18. at Climate Pledge Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ION TV.
—— StormBasketball.com ——