SerpApi.Org
The Storm entered Monday night’s game with as many wins as the Minnesota Lynx had losses, and a 1-10 record in clutch games. They got another “clutch” situation with the score within five points with fewer than five minutes on the clock and could not deliver, losing 105-102.
"I think it's the execution and the last three minutes of a game. I think that's what separates good from great," Storm guard Zia Cooke said. "And I think the more that we can dial in on all the little details and understanding that the margin of error of mistakes has to be super low within the last few minutes, especially against a team like Minnesota, and then also just being poised and being calm and understanding the concept."
The fans at Climate Pledge Arena, many waving pink towels given away for Hello Kitty night, got a more competitive game than some would’ve expected for a best-vs.-worst battle. The Storm returned home Monday after going 1-4 on their five-game road trip, their most recent loss a narrow one to the Indiana Fever, who got 45 points from Caitlin Clark.
On average, the Lynx (21-6) score 91.2 points per game, the second best in the WNBA, and allow 82.3 points per game, also the second best in the league. The Storm (6-22) average 81.4 points per game, the third worst in the league.
The first quarter featured a series of runs. With the game tied at 9-9, the Lynx went on a 14-4 run. Right after that, the Storm went on a 10-5 run to bring the score to 27-23 with the Lynx narrowly leading at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter featured more back-and-forth scoring with the Lynx primarily leading. With about four minutes left in the half, Awa Fam (6-foot-4) blocked Olivia Miles’ (5-foot-10) shot. Miles smiled and high-fived Fam afterward.
The Storm, full of life, forced the Lynx to take a timeout at the 2:22 mark. At around the two-minute point, Dominique Malonga rebounded Dorka Juhász’s missed shot up the court and allowed Cooke to make a layup that brought the crowd to their feet. With under a minute left in the half, Flau’jae Johnson drew a flagrant-1 foul on Miles. The foul sent Johnson to the line to shoot three, all of which she made. Seconds later, Johnson sank a three-point jump shot for a six-point swing that put the Storm up by one point. The Storm, the holders of the worst record in the WNBA, went into the break with a 54-53 lead over the holders of the best record in the WNBA.
Narrowly trailing, the Storm sent the Lynx to the free-throw line a few times in the closing seconds of the game in an attempt to extend the game, but Johnson's three-point shot in the final seconds was off the mark.
"Just irritated," Johnson said of her feelings postgame. "Coach drew up a great play. We executed very well. I gotta hit that shot. I shoot too much, you know. But I'm gonna get another shot like that, and I'll make it. It's gonna be a lot of those in my career, so I wanted to take the shot."
Neither team led by more than six points in the second half. The Storm don’t usually look like a team that has only won six games, but their inability to finish games has left them at the bottom of the standings. The loss brought their clutch game record to 1-11.
As a team, the Storm made 13 three-pointers, led by Johnson with five. With each one, the jumbotron featured a graphic of local legend Jimothy the raccoon scurrying across the screen with a “Jimo-three” sign.
The Storm’s points were more distributed among their roster, but they allowed 30-plus point nights from Miles and Kayla McBride. Johnson led the Storm with 26 points, followed by Cooke with 18. Former Lynx Natisha Hiedeman led Seattle in assists with 10, and Fam led in rebounds with 10.
The teams combined for 207 points. The 2026 Storm have claimed that defense is their identity, but that was lacking Monday night.
"We gonna take this personal, especially on the defensive end. I know I will. That was probably my worst defensive game ever," Johnson said. "So I think we just gotta go back to the drawing board and execute."
The Storm host the Lynx again at noon Wednesday for their last game before the All-Star break.
"For the second half of the season, because you know we got one more game to the All-Star break, like it can turn around," Cooke said. "You just never know when it can happen. That's why we just got to continue to just be ourselves and keep having that winning mentality."
