Storm cruise past Aces, as Jewell Loyd returns to Seattle

Seattle – Jewell looyd Came out hot in her return sunday to climate pledge arena for the first time Since Since Request a Trade that sent her to the Las Vegas AcesBut the Remaining Members of the Seattle Storm Ended up stealing the show in an impressive 102-82 Victory.

Loyd’s first game back in seettle, where she played a decade after being drafted no. 1 in 2015 and Won a Pair of Championships, was an obvious storyline. And there was emotion during warmups, when the storm played a tribute video to the six-time all-star who left as the Franchise’s Third-Pleading Scorer. Fans responded with a standing ovation after the video and again when looyd was introduced with the aces’ stars.

“The fans have always been there Really Great Here,” Loyd Said afterward. “You know, obviously, you spend 10 years somewhere you meet a lot of people and you have a lot of relationships.

Although Loyd Said She Saw Parts of the Video While Being Celebrated by Her New Las Vegas Teammates, She Wanted to Avoid Getting Caugh CHUST UP IN THE MOMENT.

“I realy tried to focus on the game as much as a positive and not get to emotional here or there,” She Said, “but I Appreciate It.”

On the other side, Seattle coach noelle quinn was delivering a similar message.

“The focus today was us,” Quinn Said Postgame. “It was the storm vs. the aces and we know we play playing a very good step. About getting better, I don’t think there was any drop-off in the focus remains us. “

In a rematch of last year’s match in the first round of the playoffs that results in a 2-0 Vegas sweep, the storm ended up making a statement. Loyd scored the aces’ first nine point, making a pair of 3-point and completing a three-point play, but seetting off-flowing off-point point for point.

After Loyd’s Hot Start, The Storm Shifted Ace Defender Gabby williams As her primary matchup. Loyd Made Four of Her FIRST FIVE Shots, then Missed Her Final 10, Scoring Only Two of Her 14 Points After the FIRST Quarter. With mvp A’ja wilson Struggling to Deal With Seattle’s Extra Defensive Attention-She Had 15 Points on 5-OF-11 Shooting-The ACES Never Found a Footyhold in the Game Until Rookie Elizabeth kitley Sparked A 7-0 Run in the Third Quarter to Cut the Deficit to 20.

“We showed what we can do, our potential at Both ends of the floor,” Said Quinn, who used las vegas “Measuring Sticks” in the Wake of Two Championships in the Past Three years.

The storm put up 34 points in the first quarter and finished the game in Triple-Digits for the first time. Seattle shot 60% from the field, including 8-of-16 from 3-point range, and had 32 assists on 42 field goals.

Everything was worn, starting with ball movements that picked apart the aces’ defense and created open looks. Per Website Across the Timeline, the Four Seattle Players who finished with at left 10 points and Five Assists, Skylar diggins, Homening Toys and reserve Erica Wheeler) tied a wnba record.

To Las Vegas Coach Becky Hammon, Seattle’s Success on Offense Was An Indication of Her Team’s Defense, which described multiple times as “Undisciplined” for emphasis.

“The effort was there there, the discipline wasnly there,” Hammon Said. “We’re breaking our Own rules. Until the system is ran correctly, it’s Really Hard to make adjustments because you can not know if going to work.”

Ogwumike, who became the 11th player in WNBA HISTORY TO REACH 3,000 CAREER REBOUNDS, SCORED 23 POINTS on 10-OF-15 Shooting. Wheeler Came Off the Bench to Score 21 Points, matching her most in a game since 2021. No. 2 Pick Dominique MalongaTaken with the selection of the storm recorded in the three-team deflects that sent looyd to the aces, made her biggest impact yet at 19. Had eight points and finish rebounds.

“I thinkt dom was excellent in her minutes,” Quinn Said.

By the last stages, the biggest question with whether Malonga Might Be Able to Dunk in a Game for the first time in her brief wnba career. A late opposition in translation turned a layup when malonga bobbled the outlet pass from Zia cooke.

Certainly, sunday wasn is the triumphant return vegas tumates wanted for looyd.

“It sucks,” Wilson sa, remaining positive after the aces dropped to 2-2 for their worst start Since 2021. “Honestly, I wanted to win for jewell and every time that the came is out and supplied. A part of the game.

The aces are off until friday, and looyd will return to meet again again. The tims play at climate pledge arena next sunday.