The Seattle Storm’s season is over after they dropped Wednesday’s Game 4 to the Las Vegas Aces, 97-92.
The loss is especially brutal, knowing it was Sue Bird and Briann January’s final contests in front of Storm fans at Climate Pledge Arena. Game 4 was a barn burner featuring three lead changes and three ties over the fourth quarter. Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd more than pulled their weight during the series-clinching loss, with Stewie dropping 42 points and four rebounds while Loyd followed up with 29 points and four boards.
Stewart played all 40 minutes while becoming the fifth player in WNBA playoff history to score at least 40 points, tying the individual playoff scoring with her 42-point outing.
“We are a duo that’s hard to stop,” Stewie said per Hunter Hames. “We are both still early in our careers and know how scary we can be on (the) court. You saw that last night.”
Stewie sharing how much she loves to play with Jewell
— Hunter Hames (@hunter9h) September 7, 2022
Stewie- “We are a duo that’s hard to stop. We are both still early in our careers and know how scary we can be on court. You saw that last night.”
As brilliant as Stewie and Loyd were on Wednesday, Seattle couldn’t find a third scorer to help lighten the load.
Meanwhile, the Aces were led by four double-digit scorers, with Chelsea Gray leading the way with 31 points and 10 assists, including 15 in the fourth quarter, followed by A’ja Wilson’s 23 points, 13 boards, three blocks, and one steal. Jackie Young contributed 18 points and five rebounds, and Kelsey Plum rounded out the Aces with 15 points and four dimes.
The loss plunges Seattle into an unknown future. The Storm only has two players under contract next season and eight free agents, including Stewie and Gabby Williams. Tina Charles is also a free agent after she reportedly opted out after the season concluded, according to Percy Allen of the Seattle Times.. Loyd is now the longest-tenured player on the Storm roster.
Jewell Loyd on next year’s team- “You find players you want to play with. People have seen my game, how Stewie and I play, & I hope they want to be here. There will be some calls and chats to recruit, but I’m not a recruiter, so you hope it happens organically.”
— Balanced Sports (@balanced_sports) September 7, 2022
The Finals between the Aces and the winner of the Chicago Sky-Connecticut Sun semifinal series will begin on Sunday.
