Sparks Escape Seattle with 88-83 Victory
Storm inch closer to the win column, but they aren't there yet.
(Seattle, WA) - The Seattle Storm (3-11) lost their seventh game in a row on Wednesday night. But as they did on Monday against Las Vegas, they put forth another strong performance. They played the Los Angeles Sparks (6-6) tightly throughout the entire 40 mins. The two teams were tied at halftime, and Seattle led by one entering the 4th quarter. Ultimately, the Sparks got some crucial baskets late in the game from their veterans. Seattle dropped another close one by a final score of 88-83.
The most encouraging part of the game was that their youngest players all stepped up in a big way. Flau’jae Johnson had her second career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. She also had six assists and zero turnovers. Over the past two games, Johnson has 13 assists and zero turnovers.
Dominique Malonga added 15 points on 6-11 FG and seven rebounds. Awa Fam scored 12 points on 4-6 FG, six rebounds, and two blocks. Malonga and Fam also combined to shoot 50% (3-6 FG) from beyond the arc. The “Twin Towers”, as Flau’jae called them, continue to impress. The best part is that they are just getting started.
Natisha Hiedeman led the Storm in scoring with 16 points on 6-12 FG. She also had five assists. Hiedeman continues her streak of scoring in double-digits. It was her sixth game in a row, a career-best.
Seattle outshot Los Angeles 47% (30-64 FG) to 39% (29-75 FG). They were also better from beyond the arc (31% to 26%). Seattle had more assists (26-20) and a slight edge in fast break points (10-9) and points in the paint (36-34).
LA Sparks
Nneka Ogwumike returned to Seattle and showed why she is still one of the best players in the world. She finished with a game-high 24 points on 9-18 FG. She had a near double-double with nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
Kelsey Plum was as dangerous as ever, even though Jordan Horston did an excellent job on her defensively, limiting Plum to 35% (6-17 FG) shooting. Plum still brought so much gravity towards her. There were times when the Storm tried to triple-team her. She finished with a season-high 11 assists.
Cameron Brink was a major spark off the bench. She finished with 15 points on 5-7 FG, including 2-4 FG from 3-PT range. Brink also had six rebounds, four on the offensive end, and two blocks. Brink was a team-best +10 in plus/minus.
The Sparks out-rebounded the Storm 38-35, but nearly tripled Seattle in offensive rebounds (13-5). They had the advantage in second-chance points (14-6), points off turnovers (13-11), turnovers committed (10 to 15), steals (10-5), and bench points (22-15). They were also +7 from the free throw line (21-25 FT to 14-16 FT).
Game Breakdown
Dominique Malonga scored the game’s first basket with a turnaround jumper inside the paint. Malonga then hit a three-pointer at the top of the arc. Flau’jae Johnson drove to the rim and dumped it off to Jordan Horston for the easy score inside. That put Seattle ahead 7-0 within the first couple of minutes. Nneka Ogwumike got the Sparks on the board with two free throws. Kelsey Plum then added back-to-back three-pointers, and Dearica Hamby scored in transition. The 10-0 run by Los Angeles forced Coach Sonia Raman to call a timeout.
Katie Lou Samuelson checked in and knocked down a three-point attempt to tie the game. Samuelson got a steal that led to a Stefanie Dolson layup from Jade Melbourne. Los Angeles responded with baskets from Plum and Ogwumike to regain the lead at 14-12. Jade got downhill for an And-1 opportunity, but missed the free throw. Cameron Brink scored an And-1 immediately after giving up one on the defensive end. Brink drilled a corner three and then scored on an offensive rebound putback layup. Brink’s personal 8-0 run put Los Angeles ahead by eight. Jordan Horston connected on a three-pointer at the quarter buzzer to cut into the Sparks’ lead. Los Angeles led 22-17 after the first 10 minutes.
Erica Wheeler scooped in a distant layup to open up the second quarter. Zia Cooke answered with a three in transition. Cooke then scored an And-1 on a strong drive to the rim. Ariel Atkins connected on a triple. Flau’jae Johnson drove baseline for the layup to cut Seattle’s deficit down to three at 28-25. The Sparks used a quick 6-0 run to extend their lead to nine.
Seattle answered back with a 9-0 run to tie the game. They got four points from Malonga, a three from Flau’jae, and two free throws from Melbourne. Flau’jae hit a dribble pull-up. Erica Wheeler hit a three-pointer on the other end. Awa Fam found Natisha Hiedeman cutting to the rim for two. Johnson was fouled and made both free throws to give the Storm a three-point lead at 40-37. Rae Burrell knocked down a three at the halftime buzzer to tie the game back up at 40-40.
After a Dearica Hamby basket, the Storm exploded for an 11-0 run to take a 51-42 lead, and forced Sparks’ Coach Lynne Roberts. Horston, Johnson, and Malonga all scored inside the paint. Then Hiedeman knocked down two outside jumpers to open the third period.
After the timeout, Kelsey Plum scored in the lane. Nneka Ogwumike knocked down a corner three. Hiedeman responded with another triple. Plum added two more from the line to cut Seattle’s lead down to five. Awa Fam scored after collecting the offensive rebound. Plum found Nneka at the rim for two more. Jordan Horston scored in the paint over Plum. Fam connected on a corner three. Plum added more points from the line. Ogwumike added four more as the Sparks cut the deficit to three at 63-60.
Ariel Atkins tallied two more from the charity stripe. Malonga hit a midrange jumper. The Sparks finished on a 6-2 run with four more points from Brink. Seattle led 67-66 at the end of the third period.
Brink continued to do damage, knocking down a corner three to help Los Angeles retake the lead. Fam made another three-pointer. Chance Gray added three more free throws. After Flau’jae split two free throws, Ogwumike beat Dolson down the court for the And-1 layup. Fam was fouled by Cameron Brink and made both foul shots.
Atkins scored a critical basket after the Sparks missed their initial shot. After two more free throws by Ogwumike, Hiedeman made a strong drive to the rim. Nneka hit another tough shot with the shot clock winding down. Erica Wheeler made a three with around two minutes to go to put the Sparks ahead by seven.
Malonga was fouled and made both. Seattle got a defensive stop they desperately needed. Hiedeman then found Horston on the pick-and-roll for a floater in the lane. After another stop, the Sparks were whistled for a foul with 30 seconds left in the game. That would have sent Jordan Horston to the line with a chance to cut the lead down to one. However, Coach Lynne Roberts challenged the foul call and won the challenge, rewarding the Sparks with the basketball and a three-point lead. The Storm got another defensive stop and called a timeout. That set Natisha Hiedeman with a shot that would have sent the game to overtime. Unfortunately, it didn’t go down; Seattle was forced to foul, and the Sparks escaped with an 88-83 victory.
Final Box Score
Up Next
The Seattle Storm (3-11) will host the Golden State Valkyries (7-5) on Friday, 6/12 at 7:00 PM. It’s the second meeting between the two teams. The Valkyries won the first game, 91-80.
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