Dominique Malonga Dropped a Career High and the Storm STILL Lost Nine Straight?!
Yo, Seattle! Can we talk about last night in Portland? The Storm, man, the Storm. Our squad was fighting tooth and nail, holding a lead late, only for the Portland Fire to absolutely torch us with the final 10 points of the game, snatching a 94-89 victory. That's right, a heartbreaking NINTH consecutive loss for our Emerald City warriors. My gut aches just writing that.
The Fourth Quarter Collapse That Stings
It's tough to swallow, but we gotta face it. Our Storm took a 74-67 lead into the fourth quarter, the game's largest lead at that point. It felt like a chance to finally snap this brutal streak, to put a stop to the bleeding. But then, Portland just went OFF, especially Emily Engstler. She hit a fadeaway jumper with just 1:17 left, putting the Fire up 91-89. And if that wasn't enough, Engstler drove the lane on their very next possession, dishing it to Bridget Carleton for her seventh 3-pointer of the game with 40.5 seconds to go. Just like that, a five-point deficit turned into a five-point hole for us. The Fire outscored the Storm a brutal 27-15 in that final quarter, completely unraveling what had been a back-and-forth battle. Carleton ended up with a team-high 24 points, setting a career high for made 3-pointers, while Carla Leite added 20 points and 10 assists for Portland.
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Malonga, Hiedeman, Fam: A Bright Spot in the Darkness
Look, the loss stings, but let's give props where they're due. Our players were balling out. Dominique Malonga was an absolute force, putting up a career-high 28 points and a season-best 11 rebounds. That's a monster double-double, folks, showcasing just how much she's giving to this team every night. Natisha Hiedeman was also on fire from deep, adding 19 points and tying her season high with five 3-pointers. And how about rookie Awa Fam? On her 20th birthday, no less, she matched her season best with 18 points. These women fought! We were strong inside, too, racking up a 20-8 advantage in paint points in the first half, with Malonga dominating down low. We even overcame an early 16-7 run by Portland, taking a 23-21 lead after one thanks to Hiedeman's clutch threes in a 16-5 run. We led 48-47 at the break after Fam hit a free throw. The effort was there, but the finish just wasn't.
What's Next for Our Storm?
So, where do we go from here? Nine straight losses puts the Storm at 3-13 on the season, 0-7 in Commissioner's Cup play. It's a tough spot, no doubt. Every game is a battle, and we've got to find a way to stop this skid. Our players are laying it all out on the court, even in defeat, as Malonga, Hiedeman, and Fam proved last night. We bleed green and blue, and we know our Storm does too. The grind continues, and we'll be right here, cheering them on, waiting for that next W. Let's get it, Seattle!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.