GAME HIGHLIGHTS
— Three Storm players scored 20+ points, Breanna Stewart(28), Jewell Loyd
(23), and Natasha Howard(20). Seattle’s starters score 87 of the team’s
91 points.
— The Storm won its first postseason game since Sept. 30, 2012, when the
team defeated Minnesota, 86-79, in Game 2 of the Western Conference
Semifinals.
KEY STAT OF THE GAME
— After leading by just four (54-50) at halftime, Seattle opened the third
quarter with a 16-4 run to stretch the lead to 16 (70-54) after a
three-pointer by Breanna Stewart, who scored seven of the 16 points
during the run.
STORM PLAYER NOTES & TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
WNBA MVP BREANNA STEWART
— WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart scored a playoff career-high 28 points
(previous high 23 at PHO, 9/6/17) to go along with seven rebounds.
— Breanna Stewart nailed nine field goals and drilled six three-pointers,
both of which were playoff career-highs for the 6-4 forward.
— Breanna Stewart’ssix three-pointers ties a franchise record for the most
by player in the postseason (Lauren Jackson, six vs. SAC, 10/5/04).
— Breanna Stewart’s28 points were the second highest by a Storm player in
a playoff game (31, Lauren Jackson, at SAC (OT), 10/1/2004).
WNBA MOST IMPROVED PLAYER NATASHA HOWARD
— Natasha Howard, who entered the game leading the WNBA in career field
goal percentage in postseason play (60.3 percent),went 7-for-13 en route
to posting a playoff career-high 20 points (previous high 17 at PHO,
10/2/16).
— The 2018 Most Improved Player, Natasha Howard went 1-for-3 from deep,
marking her first three-pointer for her career in postseason play.
WNBA KIM PERROT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNER SUE BIRD
— Sue Birdnotched 10 points and 10 assists, marking her third-career
double-double in postseason play.
— With her second assist of the game with 5:04 left to go in the first
quarter, Sue Bird moved to No. 5 all-time in postseason history for
assists, moving past Ticha Penicheiro (204). Bird finished the night
with 10 assists and now has 213 for her career in the postseason.
— Today marked Sue Bird’s fifth double-digit assist playoff game
(fourth-highest in franchise history).
JEWELL LOYD
— Jewell Loydscored 23 points, just missing her playoff career-high of 24
(at ATL, 9/21/16). She nailed a playoff career-high nine field goals and
dished out five assists, the most for the 5-10 guard in postseason play.
— Jewell Loydscored seven of the Storm’s 12 fourth-quarter points.
STORM TEAM NOTES
— Seattle’s 91 points equaled a franchise high for points in a playoff
game (91, at PHO, 9/5/2010).
— The Storm also equaled team playoff records for three-point field goals
made with 13 (13, twice, vs. PHO, 8/24/2007 and at PHO, 9/17/2011) and
for assists with 24 (24, vs. SAC, 10/5/2007).
— The 32 3-point field goal attempts by Seattle set a franchise playoff
high (30, vs. PHO, 8/27/2007).
— Seattle improved to 4-5 all-time against Phoenix in postseason play,
including 3-2 at KeyArena.
MERCURY TEAM NOTES
— With her eighth point in tonight’s game, Diana Taurasi passed Tamika
Catchings as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer in the playoffs. Taurasi
also became the league’s all-time leader in field goals made in the
playoffs tonight.
— Diana Taurasi also passed Tamika Catchings for second on the WNBA’s
all-time assists list in the postseason, and now trails only Lindsay
Whalen.
— Diana Taurasi finished with 25 points, recording her 36th career playoff
game of 20 points or more. Taurasi also added eight rebounds and six
assists
— DeWanna Bonnerrecorded her third double-double of this year’s WNBA
Playoffs, adding 27 points and 13 rebounds today.
— Brittney Griner was held in check this evening, recording 13 points and
four rebounds. Griner dished five assists in the loss.
— Seattle took advantage of 16 Mercury turnovers this evening, turning
them into 22 points, while Phoenix turned 12 Storm turnovers into 15
points.
— Phoenix will look to even the series back up on Tuesday night in Game 2
at KeyArena.
NEXT GAME:Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
Tip-off at KeyArena is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.
