Storm Fall to the Lynx 91-87

Minnesota's 2nd half surge rallies the Lynx to the win.

(Seattle, WA) - It was another hard-fought game by the Seattle Storm. Unfortunately, for the third time in a row, the team lost the game. This time to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (25-5). Minnesota used a barrage of three-pointers and scored 56 points in the 2nd half to rally from down eight to defeat Seattle by a final score of 91-87. It was more impressive because Napheesa Collier missed the game with an ankle injury. Collier is the presumptive MVP this season, averaging 23.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.8 SPG, but was injured in Minnesota’s 53-point blowout of the Las Vegas Aces.

The Storm had four players score in double figures. Nneka Ogwumike led the way with 23 points on 8-12 FG, including four three-pointers. She also had six rebounds and five assists. Erica Wheeler scored 19 points on 7-14 FG. Skylar Diggins added 11 points and a game-high seven assists, but struggled with her efficiency (5-14 FG). Dominique Malonga scored 12 points on 75% FG shooting. Ezi Magbegor had eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

Seattle outshot Minnesota 49% (34-69 FG) to 46% (32-70 FG), but were out-rebounded 34-24. The Lynx also were a +8 at the Free Throw line (18-26 FT compared to Seattle’s 10-12 FT).

Erica Wheeler spoke after the game about the starters being exhausted.

Wheeler told the media, “I think that's what we've been doing the past couple games. I think that's the push that we've been given. But we got to get over the hump. We've been too close in these games. Teams are not blowing us out. If you look at the third quarter, I think that's where they got us because we had enough towards the end. It's been the same thing, and it's kind of hard because we're making a push to be in the game still and not coming up with the win. So it's just tough because, like I said, we have enough.”

She went on to say, “And the fatigue is setting in. Starting five is playing a lot of minutes, but this is our job. This is not an excuse. And we're still in these games, even though we're playing extended minutes. We went overtime with LA. We had another game where it was close, and then this game is close. But that just shows the fight that we have, knowing that we're playing extended minutes. We're not giving up. We just need to get over that hump.”

Minnesota Lynx

The Lynx used a balanced attack without Napheesa Collier. Five of their players scored in double figures. Courtney Williams led the way with 20 points. Kayla McBride added 14 points. Jessica Shepard filled Collier’s spot in the starting lineup and produced a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds. Bridget Carleton broke out of her slump and knocked down four three-pointers, scoring all 12 of her points in the 2nd half. Her three-pointers were the catalyst for the Lynx’s comeback victory.

Lastly, DiJonai Carrington added 13 points off the bench. Carrington was just traded to Minnesota a couple of days ago from the Dallas Wings and already had an immediate impact on her new team. DiJonai was a plus-nine in plus/minus, the second-best overall, only behind Shepard’s plus-13. Carrington could be a key piece to the Lynx’s Championship run.

Minnesota had a 17-10 advantage in fast break points. They had a 13-8 edge in second-chance points and 13-7 in steals.

Game Breakdown

Jessica Shepard scored the first basket standing right under the rim without any defenders. Nneka Ogwuike connected on a three-pointer for the Storm’s first basket. Seattle then stole a baseline out-of-bounds pass, and Gabby Williams found Ezi Magbegor at the rim for two. Kayla McBride tied the game with a three at the top of the arc. Erica Wheeler hit a dribble pull-up and on the next possession got to the rim for two more. Alanna Smith air-balled a three-pointer. Seattle scored on an outside jumper to put the Storm ahead 11-5.

Minnesota responded with a 5-0 run. Smith scored from an offensive putback. Courtney Williams hit an open jumper. Smith was fouled hard on a drive to the rim and made one of two free throws. Dominique Malonga checked in and scored immediately. And then scored again, forcing Coach Cheryl Reeve to immediately substitute Jessica Shepard back into the game.

Shepard immediately made some impact plays. First, she made the extra pass to Maria Kliundikova for the open layup. Then scored herself. DiJonai Carrington got a steal and passed it up ahead to Natisha Hiedeman for the uncontested layup to put the Lynx ahead by one. Tiffany Mitchell was fouled on the other end and made her free throws. After more free throws from Shepard and a basket by Hiedeman. The Lynx led 20-19 at the end of the first quarter.

Dominique Malonga made back-to-back baskets, including a beautiful turnaround fadeaway. That briefly put the Storm ahead 23-21. Kayla McBride was fouled behind the three-point line and made all three free throws. Skylar got three looks at the basket and finally made her third attempt.

Minnesota regained the lead by getting to the foul line multiple times. Erica Wheeler got to the line for the Storm. Kayla McBride tied the game (31-31) with a layup. Gabby Williams hit a three-pointer. Courtney Williams hit a midrange jumper and started immediately jawing at Skylar Diggins afterwards. Nneka Ogwumike answered with an AND1. Ogwumike scored again to put the Storm ahead by six. Maria Kliundikova scored from an offensive rebound. Erica Wheeler knocked down a three right before the end of the first half. That gave the Storm their largest lead of the half, up 43-35.

The Lynx jumped out to an 8-2 run to begin the 2nd half. Bridget Carleton knocked down back-to-back three-pointers. Jessica Shepard then scored at the rim in transition. Minnesota continued that run to 16-4 to take a four-point lead at 51-47. The road team hit four three-pointers in the first two and a half minutes of the third period; three of those came from Carleton and the other from Courtney Williams.

Seattle called a timeout to sub Tiffany Mitchell and Dominique Malonga back into the game. Malonga scored a couple of more times, and Mitchell hit a corner three to tie the game back up at 58-58. DiJonai Carrington scored through contact but missed the free throw to complete the three-point play. Gabby hit a pull-up jumper. Alanna Smith countered with a three-pointer on the wing.

The Storm regained the lead with baskets from Ogwumike and Wheeler. Despite being outscored 28-21, Seattle led 64-63 at the end of the third period.

Ogwumike scored to begin the fourth. Seattle looked like they were going to score in transition. Tiffany Mitchell went up for a layup, but DiJonai Carrington had a huge rejection. Mitchell fell hard to the ground and couldn’t get back up. The Lynx played 5-on-4, and that led to a Carrington open three-pointer that tied the game at 66.

From there, Minnesota went on an 11-4 run to take a seven-point lead. Carrington made some big plays on both ends. Carleton hit another three-pointer. Jessica Shepard blew past Ogwuike for an easy layup.

Nneka responded with two three-pointers to cut Minnesota’s lead down to four at 80-76 with 1:09 remaining in the game. Courtney Williams scored at the rim, but Wheeler answered. Then Williams hit a dagger three that barely rolled in.

Seattle did fight back, but it was too little, too late. Despite three-pointers from Ogwumike, Diggins, and Wheeler, the Storm ran out of time and had to play the foul game. At the final buzzer, Seattle had lost 91-87 against the Minnesota Lynx.

Final Box Score

Up Next

The Seattle Storm (16-14) travel to Las Vegas to face the Aces (15-14) on Friday, August 8th at 7:00 PM. Seattle won the first game 102-82, lost the second game 75-70, and won the third game 90-83. This is the final game of the season series and an important one, as the Storm can hold the tiebreaker advantage with another win.

Part 2

Part 2 will include additional thoughts and discussion from Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx. It’ll be sent exclusively to paid subscribers.

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