Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. Here’s what’s going on in the WNBA.
Jewell Loyd celebrates with her Seattle Storm teammates.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Seattle Storm.)
While the Lakers were getting spanked against the Rockets, the Sparks were having a much better game against the Seattle Storm. They led by 13 points as Candace Parker had 17-4-5 alone in the first half. But Jewell Loyd (DEFINITELY MORE on her later) countered with 15 points as the Storm cut the deficit to four by halftime.
It became a heavyweight fight for the rest of the game. Somehow, Sue Bird and Chelsea Gray each missed a free throw. Then MVP candidate Breanna Stewart tied the game at 87 with a lay-up with 14 seconds left.
In the ensuing possession, Riquna Williams broke free and cut to the rim. Stewie had to foul her to stop the easy two with 0.8 seconds left. Riquna calmly made both foul shots and we’re in one of these situations once again.
Well…
🚨🚨🚨 JEWELL LOYD BUZZER BEATER 🚨🚨🚨
STORM WINS#StrongerThanEver pic.twitter.com/MQqG7bJvk9
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 5, 2020
Jewell Loyd, who ended up with 25 points, sank the contested corner 3 to win it. There was talk about how she might have been out of bounds. But the refs took a look and said it was good. What a shot.
The Sparks could take solace to the fact that Nneka Ogwumike didn’t play. It’s a battle up top right now and we could very well see the Storm and Sparks go at it again.
In the meantime, basketball is crazy the last few days. How many games have we seen lately that came down to the final possession? Good grief.
Bullet Passes
The Mystics won a game! And it was against the shorthanded Chicago Sky. At least, the Sky have clinched a postseason berth. They have the Sparks next, who are going to be fuming after that loss. Then they close the regular season out (already?!) against the Atlanta Dream and the Dallas Wings.
Two-time Most Improved Player winner Leilani Mitchell had a career-best 12 assists to go along with 20 points for the Mystics.
The aforementioned Wings lost to the Minnesota Lynx, who are now tied with the Sparks at 13-5. They led at halftime but the Lynx wiped them out in the third quarter, 28-14. The Lynx had some balanced scoring; they had 6 ladies in double figs.
Allisha Gray went for 26 points, a career high in scoring. Arike Ogunbowale had 14 points.
Double U Scoreboard
CHI 69 (11-8) vs WAS 79 (5-12)
MIN 88 (13-5) vs DAL 75 (6-12)
SEA 90 (15-3) vs LA 89 (13-5)
Watch This Play
That corner 3 once again by Jewell Loyd.
🚨🚨🚨 JEWELL LOYD BUZZER BEATER 🚨🚨🚨
STORM WINS#StrongerThanEver pic.twitter.com/MQqG7bJvk9
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 5, 2020
Few more weeks in the Wubble. Stay safe, everyone!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.