Tuesday night’s 111-100 victory over the Chicago Sky included 37 assists from the Seattle Storm, who also had 25 points from Breanna Stewart and 9 rebounds from Gabby Williams.
A New Record
Moreover, with 66 points in the first half, Seattle also broke a franchise record for points scored in any half. However, the Storm only held an 11-point lead until Chicago went on a 13-4 run to end the game. The 121 total points scored in the first half were the WNBA’s highest total for a first half this year.
Despite the defeat, Chicago (25-9) is still in pole position to secure the top spot in the playoffs, leading second-place Las Vegas, which played later Tuesday night, by 1 1/2 games. Seattle (21-13) went ahead of Washington for the No. 4 seed by one game, and the Storm have the advantage over the Mystics in the tiebreaker for first-round home court.
Seattle reached the century marker with 4:50 remaining in the fourth and led by as much as 22 points in the second half.
For Seattle, Jewell Loyd added 18 points. Sue Bird scored 10 points and dished out 8 assists, Ezi Magbegor scored 13 points, and Tina Charles scored 14. Seattle scored on nine of their first eleven attempts, shooting 76.2 percent, and had 24 assists.
Moreover, with 28 points, 10 of 15 shooting from the field, 7 of 10 at the line, and seven assists, Courtney Vandersloot led Chicago. Azura Stevens contributed 12, Candace Parker had 14, and Kahleah Copper scored 17 points. Since Noelle Quinn tested positive for COVID-19 and was under the league’s health and safety guidelines, Seattle was without its head coach.
Wilson Led the Lineup
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Atlanta Dream 97-90 on Tuesday night because to Kelsey Plum, who scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half, and A’ja Wilson, who finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds.
Moreover, with two games remaining, including hosting the Sky on Thursday, Las Vegas (24-10) closed the gap on first-place Chicago to one game. Eighth-place Atlanta (14-20) is one game ahead of Minnesota for the last playoff slot.
Atlanta fought back to equalise the score at 78 after Las Vegas went on a 16-4 run to start the fourth quarter, increasing its advantage to 78-69. Atlanta’s 14-4 run was capped by a three-point shot by rookie Naz Hillmon, giving Atlanta the advantage 83-82.
After a Las Vegas turnover, Aari McDonald scored an open 3-pointer in transition to pull Atlanta within 91-90, but she missed one the next time around and had to foul Chelsea Gray with 21.5 seconds left. Wilson’s block with 8.7 seconds left gave Gray and the team a two-possession lead after he made both of his free throws.
Jackie Young had 20 points, while Gray added 22 for Las Vegas. Las Vegas led 47-44 at the end of the first half thanks to 18 points from Wilson. For Atlanta, Erica Wheeler and Maya Caldwell both scored 17 points. Cheyenne Parker and Rhyne Howard each scored 14 points, while McDonald added 16 points.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Howard made her first 3-pointer in five attempts, setting a WNBA record for most 3-pointers by a rookie with 77. Tamika Catchings established the previous benchmark in 2002, with a score of 76.
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