MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Seattle Storm secured a 90-79 wire-to-wire road win against the Minnesota Lynx, marking just its third victory in the Twin Cities since 2010. Reigning WNBA Most Improved Player Natasha Howard recorded a career-high 33 points in a well-rounded performance that also featured seven rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists. Sami Whitcomb tallied 15 points off five three-pointers and dished out a career-high eight assists.
Seattle got off to a blistering 15-4 start with early success from Howard and Whitcomb beyond the arc. The Storm duo nearly outscored the Lynx in the first quarter, combining for 15 points to Minnesota’s 16. Shavonte Zellous sank the fourth three-point basket for Seattle with 1.4 seconds left in the period.
Trailing by 10 to start the second quarter, Danielle Robinson and Sylvia Fowles sparked an 11-2 charge as Minnesota got within six points of the Storm. After committing just one turnover in the first 10 minutes, Seattle coughed up the ball seven times and Minnesota scored 12 points off turnovers. Despite the mistakes, Seattle continued to shoot above a 50 percent clip and entered the break with a 50-40 lead.
Howard scored seven consecutive points for the Storm and Jordin Canada followed with back-to-back three-pointers as the gap continued to widen. Howard scored 12 of her 33 points in the third quarter and drained her second three-pointer of the night at the buzzer.
Minnesota picked up the pace in the fourth quarter as Lexie Brown tallied 10 points to get within one point of Seattle with under four minutes to play. Fueled by six quick points from Howard, Seattle rebuilt a sizable lead on 6-of-6 shooting from the free throw line in the final 88 seconds.
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (left knee) exited the game in the first half and would not return. Jordin Canada (head) joined her on the bench in the fourth quarter.
KEY STATS OF THE GAME
- The Seattle Storm led wire-to-wire in a 90-79 win against the Minnesota Lynx. Seattle led by as many as 21 points in the second half, but the Lynx came within one point of the Storm in the fourth quarter.
- Natasha Howard led the field in scoring, finishing with a career high 33. She also contributed three blocks.
- Seattle won despite allowing 34 points off 21 turnovers. The 34 points allowed off turnovers were the most in a win in WNBA history in a non-OT game (per the Elias Sports Bureau).
SEATTLE HIGHLIGHTS
- With a wire-to-wire victory tonight, Seattle has won two of its last road games vs. Minnesota dating back to Aug. 12, 2018. Prior to that, Seattle had lost 16 consecutive games in Minnesota (8/1/2010 to 6/26/2018), the longest road losing streak vs. a single opponent in franchise history (per the Elias Sports Bureau).
- Natasha Howard scored a career-high 33 points (regular season or playoffs), becoming the eighth player in Storm history to record a 30-point game. Howard also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots.
- Sami Whitcomb dished out a career-high eight assists and tallied a season-high 15 points. She also hit five 3-point field goals for the second time in her career (6 on 5/26/17 vs. NYL).
- Alysha Clark finished the night with 12 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists, becoming the seventh player to record 300 assists as a member of the Storm.
- The Storm allowed 34 points off 21 turnovers, marking the most points forfeited off turnovers since 6/28/2009 (36 points in loss at LAS). After committing just one turnover in the first quarter, Seattle allowed Minnesota to score 32 points off 20 turnovers in the final 30 minutes of play.
- This is the third straight game that the Storm has reached double-digits in treys made, combining for 39 in the last three contests. The Storm totaled 39 treys in eight games to begin the season.
- Four of the five Storm starters reached double digits in scoring to combine for 72 of Seattle’s 90 points.
- On the defensive end of the court, the Storm held 2019 All-Star Odyssey Sims to only five points on 2-for-12 shooting.
MINNESOTA HIGHLIGHTS
- Lexie Brown contributed 20 points coming off the bench, one point shy of matching her career high.
- Danielle Robinson notched her second double-double of the season with 14 points and a season-high 10 assists. She also collected five boards and snagged four steals.
- Minnesota posted a season-high 30 assists, surpassing the team’s previous best of 24 vs. Atlanta on July 2.
- The Lynx forced 21 Seattle turnovers, capitalizing for 34 points off turnovers. The 34 points stand as a season high in the category and are the second most in franchise history. Minnesota’s club best was established on July 26, 2011 when the team scored 35 points off turnovers against Los Angeles.
NEXT GAME
The Storm returns to Alaska Airlines Arena on Friday, July 19, for the first of consecutive games against the Las Vegas Aces. The game will be broadcast on JOEtv and NBA TV at 7 p.m. PT.