Seattle Storm ‘Rain’ Supreme on Connecticut Sun, 97-81

Bria Hartley (No. 14) of the Connecticut Sun drives to the basket against Erica Wheeler (No. 17) of the Seattle Storm. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)

SEATTLE — The Seattle Storm delivered a commanding offensive and defensive effort Friday night at Climate Pledge Arena, cruising past the Connecticut Sun, 97–81, to wrap up their three-game homestand with a resounding win.

Seattle (10–6 following Friday night’s game) turned a competitive first quarter into a third-quarter runaway, relying on an explosive 18–5 run to create the separation needed to put the Sun (2–14) away. While Connecticut showed glimpses of cohesion and promise, especially through the efforts of Bria Hartley, Jacy Sheldon, and Aneesah Morrow, their eighth straight loss again highlighted the challenges of a roster still learning under first-year head coach Rachid Meziane.

“We played a very good Seattle team. They shot well, and they got too many offensive rebounds in the first half,” Meziane said postgame. “Even if they didn’t score after their second chances, they built some confidence. We missed a lot of wide-open shots. At the end of the day, it’s a tough loss, but I think we came back. We fought. The young players did a great job.”

Connecticut opened the game with energy and movement, using transition opportunities and backdoor cuts to take an early 10–6 lead. Hartley and Sheldon combined for 12 of the Sun’s 19 first-quarter points, while Morrow came off the bench with immediate impact.

But that momentum faded quickly. Seattle answered with an 18–9 closing run, capped by Skylar Diggins’ transition layup and Nneka Ogwumike’s three-pointer that gave the Storm a 24–19 edge after 10 minutes.

Seattle’s balance started to emerge in the second quarter, particularly through Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor. Williams pushed the pace, tallying seven points, four assists and three rebounds in the quarter alone. Meanwhile, Ogwumike hit her second triple of the half, and Dominique Malonga provided a physical interior presence off the bench.

Connecticut tried to counter with Morrow, who scored six of her 20 points in the second frame, but the Storm’s ball movement and defensive intensity limited Connecticut’s perimeter shooting. The Sun shot just 2-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first half and went into the locker room trailing, 52–38.

Any hopes of a Sun comeback evaporated in the third. Seattle came out of halftime with blistering execution, starting the quarter on an 18–5 run. Williams nailed two threes in quick succession, Diggins weaved through the defense for back-to-back buckets, and Erica Wheeler knocked down a corner triple to stretch the lead to 70–43 with just over five minutes left.

“We have to find some consistency in how we play and how we have to match the team’s physicality,” Meziane said. “It’s not always about talent. Sometimes it’s about how tough you play. We have to learn. Every game is a learning opportunity.”

To their credit, Connecticut responded late in the third behind Hartley and Sheldon, trimming the deficit to 76–61 heading into the final quarter.

Aneesah Morrow (No. 24) tallied 20 points off the bench for the Connecticut Sun against the Seattle Storm. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)

With the result all but decided, Meziane’s squad kept grinding. Sheldon knocked down her second three-pointer of the night, and Morrow continued to clean up on the glass and finish in the paint. Connecticut shot 50% from the field in the fourth but couldn’t cut the lead under 14 as Seattle countered every Sun basket with timely responses.

Diggins capped her 24-point performance with a step-back three over Sheldon, and Malonga added two post scores late to preserve the Storm’s lead. Seattle closed the game shooting 49.3% from the field and an impressive 87.0% from the free-throw line (20-of-23).

Likewise, Diggins led all scorers with 24 points, adding 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in one of her most complete outings of the season. Williams posted 16 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals, while Ogwumike contributed 16 points, including two made threes and a +25 plus-minus.

Malonga added 11 points off the bench, and Seattle’s 27 assists as a team underscored their unselfish, well-orchestrated offense.

For Connecticut, Hartley’s 19 points led the way, with Sheldon adding 15 on 5-of-6 shooting and Morrow chipping in 20 points and 8 rebounds in another energetic bench performance.

Even for a versatile player like Hartley, she recognizes the work in progress not only with her teammates, but herself with gelling and coalescing in the midst of the season.

“I feel like it’s growing in spurts. People are building their confidence, especially our rookies in this league,” Hartley said. “I think even me, just my first season back in a few years, we’re working on building our confidence. We want to keep building on that. We still need to come together and be better collectively so that we’re all on the same page. I think you see moments where one player is playing really well, and another game, it’s another player. We just need to all be in the same game. If we can get that to happen, I think we’ll be alright.

Despite shooting a solid 47.6% from the field and 53.8% from three, Connecticut struggled with turnovers (15), defensive rotations, and consistent rebounding.

Rachid Meziane, head coach of the Connecticut Sun, acknowledged his team’s uphill battles to start this season. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)

Friday’s game marked nearly a month since Meziane officially took the reins for the Sun — a timeline that included a lopsided preseason loss to Seattle. While the result wasn’t what he hoped for, Meziane acknowledged the team’s gradual growth.

“It’s still a work in progress. We are not a finished product, and I know that my offensive system takes time,” he said. “We just have to be patient, but I can see improvement. Until we work hard, I will never be satisfied by losing a game. But I can be proud of my team and my players when they fight.”

The Storm (10–7) made their way to San Francisco to play against the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday night, falling to their upstart Western Conference rivals, 84-57. Meanwhile, the Sun (2–15) lost in a Sunday evening matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, 102-63.

For a team brimming with young talent and learning through adversity, the losses are piling up, but so is the fight even prior to Sunday’s game against Minnesota.

“When you are in our position, you have to find some positiveness. That’s what we try to do — and just keep working,” Meziane said.

Next Sunrise

Connecticut heads back home to the friendly confines of Mohegan Sun Arena for a two-game homestand against the Las Vegas Aces (8-8) on Sunday, July 6 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.

Connecticut Sun: By the Numbers

Jacy Sheldon (No. 4) of the Connecticut Sun had a solid offensive outing with 15 points, making five of her six field goals, including 2-2 from downtown. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)

Seattle Storm: By the Numbers

Skylar Diggins (No. 4) of the Seattle Storm led all scorers with 24 points in a 97-81 win over the Connecticut Sun. (Photo: Luis Torres | The Podium Finish)