Minnesota’s perfect start is no more.
The Seattle Storm handed the Lynx a 94-84 defeat Wednesday night for Minnesota’s first loss of the season. The loss drops Minnesota to 9-1.
With the Lynx loss, the reigning champion New York Liberty remain the WNBA’s last unbeaten team at 9-0. The Storm improved to 6-4 with the win on their home court.
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The Lynx appeared to be in control in the second half while opening up a 60-49 third-quarter lead. But the Storm closed the quarter on a 19-5 run to enter the fourth with a 68-65 advantage. Rookie Dominique Malonga (No. 2 pick) closed the quarter with a late Seattle layup.
It was a close battle down the stretch, but Seattle never relinquished its fourth-quarter advantage.
A Skylar Diggins 3 extended the Seattle lead to 83-79 with 2:41 left after a previous Lynx bucket was taken off the board upon review for a shot-clock violation.
The Lynx cut the Storm lead to 85-84 with a Kayla McBride 3. But Erica Wheeler responded with a 3 of her own to extend the Seattle lead back to 88-84 with 46.1 seconds remaining
Minnesota didn’t threaten again.
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Nine-time All-Star Nneka Ogwumike led the Seattle charge with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Diggins added 18 points and six assists. Wheeler finished with 20 points and a game-high nine assists. All five Seattle starters scored in double figures.
Napheesa Collier posted a game-high 25 points with nine rebounds and five assists for the Lynx in the losing effort. Minnesota will look to get back in the win column on Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Storm will take on the expansion Golden State Valkyries on Saturday.
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