Two nights after stumbling via a season-opening loss in Phoenix, the Seattle Storm confirmed precisely why their veteran-laden roster can’t be written off.
Behind a dominant 23-point, 19-rebound efficiency from Nneka Ogwumike and a late push led by Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams, the Storm outlasted the Dallas Wings 79–71 on Monday night time at Faculty Park Middle.
The end result was greater than a win. It was a response.
“That is the WNBA. All people’s making an attempt to win,” Diggins mentioned. “It simply got here all the way down to who might make performs—and we landed the airplane.”
Seattle, now 1–1, did greater than make performs. The Storm set a tone early with 9 3-pointers within the first half, then leaned on its expertise to place the sport away after Dallas closed the hole to a few within the fourth quarter.
It was precisely the form of efficiency head coach Noelle Quinn anticipated from her management core, particularly after what she described as an “uncharacteristic” opening-night exhibiting.
“They didn’t like how we began the season—they usually didn’t anticipate me to say one thing,” Quinn mentioned. “Nneka [Ogwumike], Skylar [Diggins], Alysha [Clark]—all of them held themselves accountable. When your leaders do this, the crew follows.”
A Efficiency Rooted in Management
Ogwumike, in her second season with the Seattle Storm, delivered one in all her most impactful video games in current reminiscence, dominating the glass and scoring in key moments. Diggins added 21 factors and 9 assists, together with two essential baskets within the fourth quarter that helped Seattle reassert management.
Williams, in the meantime, performed a near-flawless two-way recreation—ending with 17 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, three steals, and two blocks. She was additionally credited with 10 deflections and drew the first defensive project towards Dallas star Arike Ogunbowale, who shot 2-of-14 on the night time.
“She performed the entire rattling recreation,” Diggins mentioned. “She’s our greatest perimeter defender. She will be able to rebound, shoot, go—do all of it. We depend on her for that.”
Quinn referred to as Williams’ dedication “unbelievable,” particularly in gentle of her full-season availability and Olympic-level conditioning.
Wings Surge Behind Bueckers, Then Stall
The Wings made it attention-grabbing behind one other sturdy efficiency from rookie Paige Bueckers, who scored 19 factors and added eight assists, 5 rebounds, and two steals in 37 minutes. Dallas outscored Seattle 20–10 within the third quarter and minimize the deficit to 66–63 early within the fourth.
However simply as shortly because the momentum shifted, the Storm slammed the door. Ogwumike hit back-to-back photographs within the paint, and Diggins adopted with a layup and a feed to Ezi Magbegor to cap an 8–0 run.
Bueckers continued to indicate polish past her years however acknowledged the rising pains postgame.
“We supply [our competitiveness] for quarters, after which now we have lapses,” Bueckers mentioned. “We’ve accomplished an excellent job combating again, however we’ve bought to determine the way to reduce these psychological lapses and actually play a complete 40 minutes collectively.”
Ogunbowale was held to 2-of-14 capturing and only one made three in eight makes an attempt. Williams’ protection, mixed with Seattle’s potential to combine coverages, made a transparent distinction.
“That was actually Gabby’s project,” Ogwumike mentioned. “All of us touched it a little bit, however Gabby set the tone. Arike is a scorer—it’s a must to defend her as a crew.”
Seattle Storm’s Recalibrated Identification
After an offseason that noticed Jewell Loyd exit, Seattle entered the season with questions on how shortly the brand new group would gel. Monday night time provided early indicators of what that identification is likely to be: organized, defensive-minded, and led by gamers with championship expectations.
“We wish to play with tempo and tempo, however we are able to’t be in a rush,” Quinn mentioned. “There’s a distinction between being fast and speeding via reads.”
Quinn downplayed speak of lineup adjustments after the season-opening loss, calling it “a one-game pattern measurement.” As an alternative, she centered on belief and accountability inside her veteran core—a basis she believes will outline this crew’s ceiling.
“We needed to return in and be intentional about how we constructed this crew,” she mentioned. “Tonight confirmed the work we’ve put in these previous three weeks.”
The Storm return to Seattle to face the unbeaten Phoenix Mercury on Friday in a rematch of the season opener.
