The Seattle Storm delivered a high-octane offensive performance to defeat the Washington Mystics 97-85 in a 2026 WNBA Regular Season shootout. Navigating a depleted frontcourt, Seattle relied on perimeter firepower and early momentum to secure the 12-point victory.
The decisive moment
Seattle established their dominance almost immediately, taking the lead for good with just 13.1 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. From that point on, the Storm controlled the tempo, preventing Washington from putting together any sustained offensive runs to seriously challenge the deficit.
By the numbers
- Natisha Hiedeman paced the Storm offense with 24 points, five assists, and one rebound.
- Flau'jae Johnson added valuable support for Seattle, contributing 17 points and six rebounds.
- Stefanie Dolson chipped in 16 points and three rebounds to bolster the Storm.
- Sonia Citron led the Mystics' resistance with 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
- The teams combined for a staggering 182 total points in a fast-paced matchup.
The Storm managed to light up the scoreboard despite missing star center Ezi Magbegor, who is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a right foot injury. Seattle was also without Dominique Malonga due to a concussion.
What it means
This victory showcases Seattle's resilience and depth, proving they can generate enough offense to win comfortably even when dealing with significant injury setbacks. For the Mystics, the inability to string together consecutive defensive stops against a shorthanded opponent highlights a need for structural adjustments on that end of the floor.
What to watch next
The Storm will look to maintain their offensive rhythm and figure out long-term frontcourt rotations in Magbegor's absence as the regular season continues. Meanwhile, Washington must regroup and focus on tightening their perimeter defense ahead of their next scheduled contest.