Loyd hits season-high six three-pointers to finish with game-high 22 points in Seattle victory
SEATTLE – Jewell Loyd, Ezi Magbegor and Breanna Stewart combined to score 61 points to lead the Seattle Storm to an 85-71 win over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Storm (11-6) picked up its sixth win in its last seven games by ending the game on a 14-2 run to finally put away the Mystics (11-9). Washington managed to hang around much of the game, reeling the Storm back in after Seattle would take double-digit lead after double-digit lead.
Loyd finished with a game-high 22 points, hitting a season-high six three-pointers on eight attempts. Magbegor added 20 points in a career-high 36 minutes, scoring at least 20 for the fourth time in her career and second time this season. Stewart recorded 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
The Storm came out of top of the first quarter, outscoring the Mystics 28-22, only to see Washington fire back with a 13-4 run in the second quarter to take the lead. Seattle returned the favor with a 10-0 run to end the first half, going into halftime leading 46-37.
The Storm’s lead grew in the third quarter as Loyd took over, going 3-for-3 from the three-point line. But starting late in the third, the Mystics began a 19-8 run to bring the score within two at 71-69 with 5:55 to play. But once again, Seattle turned it around, closing the game on a 14-2 run. Sue Bird accounted for 12 of those points, scoring five and assisting on three other baskets resulting in seven Storm points. She finished the game with 12 points and eight assists.
Seattle celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, honoring co-owner Ginny Gilder and hundreds of women working in the sports industry in Seattle.
The Storm will return to Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday at 6 p.m. to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Pride Night. The game will be broadcast on Fox 13+ and streamed on Prime Video (Wash. only) and Facebook Watch.