Storm Fan? You Need to See What Flau'jae Johnson Did Last Night, Even In a Loss

Okay, another one slipped away, Emerald City. The Seattle Storm fought their absolute hearts out against the Los Angeles Sparks at Climate Pledge Arena, but ultimately fell short, 88-83, in a Commissioner's Cup battle that had us all on the edge of our seats right down to the wire. It was a tough one, watching us claw back and then just miss that final punch.

The Heartbreak at the Buzzer

Man, this one stings. We were right there. Natisha Hiedeman, who shook off a slow start to lead the Storm with 16 points, had a potential tying 3-pointer with just 6.3 seconds left, and it just didn't fall. You could feel the air go out of the building. After that, Erica Wheeler sealed it for the Sparks with two free throws, making it an 88-83 final. The Sparks, led by Nneka Ogwumike's game-high 24 points and Kelsey Plum's 19 points and 11 assists, just barely outlasted us. It’s tough when you shoot 46.9% from the field on 30 of 64 attempts, better than their 38.7% (29 of 75), but their nine 3-pointers on 35 attempts were just enough to counter our nine on 29 attempts. Every bucket counted in this one, and the small margins really showed.

The Rookies and the Fight

Despite the tough loss, there were some serious bright spots, especially from our younger crew. Rookie Flau'jae Johnson was absolutely everywhere, dropping 14 points, pulling down 12 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. That's a monster line for a rookie, showing us exactly why we're so hyped about her future! Dominique Malonga added 15 points, Awa Fam chipped in with 12, and Jordan Horston had 11, including hitting a 3-pointer to close the first quarter. This squad showed heart, starting hot with a 7-0 lead thanks to Malonga and Horston. We went on an incredible 11-0 run in the third, with Hiedeman hitting a long jumper and a 3-pointer to give us a 51-42 lead. We even tied it up at halftime at 39-39 on a Rae Burrell buzzer-beater! This team doesn't quit, even with a tough 3-11 overall record and an 0-5 start in the Commissioner's Cup. The fight is there, the talent is emerging.

So, yeah, it's another loss on the record, moving us to a difficult 3-11 for the season and 0-5 in the Commissioner's Cup. But you saw the fight, right? You saw Flau'jae putting up a double-double, Malonga dropping buckets, and Hiedeman hitting big shots. This team has grit, and even when it hurts to lose like this, you can see the pieces starting to click. We need to keep building on these individual performances, finding that consistency, and learning how to close out these back-and-forth battles. The Emerald City always stands with its teams, and we'll be right there cheering.

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.