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WNBA Seattle Storm

Loyd Sets Storm Single-Season Scoring Record, But Seattle Falls in Chicago

September 5, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release


CHICAGO - Jewell Loyd scored a game-high 26 points, becoming the Storm's all-time single-season leading scorer, but her offensive prowess wasn't enough to make up for Seattle's lack of defense, resulting in a 102-79 loss in Wintrust Arena on Tuesday night.

Loyd, who is the WNBA's leading scorer this season with a 24.3 ppg average, recorded her WNBA-best 15th game with 25+ points on the season and her second in as many games, giving her 748 points on the season. She is also in striking distance of the WNBA's all-time single-season scoring record, needing 112 points to eclipse Diana Taurasi's 860-point record set in 2006 with seven games left in the season.

"It takes a lot of talent and hard work to do the things that Jewell is doing," Coach Noelle Quinn said. "I have a lot of pride for the way that she's playing and the way she's representing herself this season."

Seattle's defense, which had been the best in the league since the all-star break, struggled to contain the hot-shooting Sky. Chicago shot 50.6% from the field in the game while limiting the Storm to 38.0%. Seattle also turned the ball over 15 times in the game leading to 18 Chicago points off turnovers while the Storm forced just five from the Sky leading to a single point.

While both teams remained close in the first quarter, Chicago went on a 10-2 run to bridge the first and second quarters, capitalizing off the Storm's eight first-quarter miscues to extend its lead.

Loyd came alive in the second quarter and fueled a Seattle 8-2 run, notching ten of the Storm's 21 second quarter points and trimming the Sky's lead down to ten at halftime.

But Chicago came out firing in the third quarter, scoring the first seven points to go up 17 and held that margin with a 77-60 advantage after three periods.

The Sky again struck quickly in the fourth period, using back-to-back three-pointers in the first minute of play to build the lead to 22 and never looked back.

Ezi Magbegor once again finished in double-figures with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the game, adding five assists and four rebounds. Sami Whitcomb added 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, hitting a pair of three-pointers to extend her streak of games with at least one trey to 24 games, the fourth-longest active streak in the WNBA.

Dana Evans came off the bench to lead the Sky with 23 points and eight assists. She was one of five Chicago players in double-figures with Marina Mabrey adding 19 points.

Jordan Horston pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds marking her fifth game with 10+ rebounds over her rookie season, trailing just Breanna Stewart for the most by a Storm rookie all-time.

Up Next:

Seattle will close its Midwest three-game road trip with a matchup against Indiana on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. PT in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and can be watched on FOX 13+ and Amazon Prime (WA).

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