The path to greatness always includes some sort of obstacle to overcome.
Although no Western conference team has been able to defeat the Seattle Storm, their 73-71 win over the Minnesota Lynx this afternoon was definitely a test of this team’s resilience and mental strength.
The strange thing is that it’s hard to even determine how they pulled this one out.
The Storm were down 59-52 to open the 4th quarter and appeared to just be going through the motions. Their trademark defensive intensity wasn’t there and they had turned the ball over 19 times through three quarters, a rate far higher than usual.
Then about halfway through the fourth, something seemed to click. The Storm’s All-Star trio of Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and Lauren Jackson got going with a fastbreak layup by Bird off a Lynx turnover tying the game at 62. From there, the Storm’s defense continued to step up, not only forcing turnovers, but forcing the Lynx into 21.4% shooting in the fourth quarter on their home floor. The fourth quarter numbers in this one probably tell the story better than the narrative description because the shift in momentum seemed to come from nowhere.
Jackson led the way once again with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks while Tanisha Wright finished 2 points shy of a double-double with 8 points and 10 assists. All-Sar Rebekkah Brunson led the way for the Lynx with 19 points and 9 rebounds while Seimone Augustus and Swin Cash chipped in 13 points apiece.