Flau'jae Johnson's Double-Double Couldn't Save the Storm From a Crushing 3-11 Record

Alright, 12s, another one slips through our fingers and it stings, big time. The Seattle Storm fought their hearts out last night at Climate Pledge Arena, but the Los Angeles Sparks, led by Nneka Ogwumike, had enough to snatch an 88-83 Commissioner's Cup victory. We were right there, battling back and forth, but when the final buzzer sounded, it was another L for our squad, pushing us to a brutal 3-11 record for the season, and a disheartening 0-5 in the Cup. This one hurts, especially when you see a rookie like Flau'jae Johnson dropping an absolute gem of a game.

Back and Forth, But No Finish

Man, this game was a rollercoaster from the jump! Our Storm came out fired up, with Dominique Malonga hitting a turnaround jumper and a three, then Jordan Horston dropping a jumper to give us a sweet 7-0 lead just over two minutes in. We were cooking! But L.A. responded fast, rattling off a 10-0 run with Kelsey Plum knocking down back-to-back threes. This whole game felt like that. We tied it up at 14-14, only for Cameron Brink to go on an 8-point tear for L.A., including a three-point play and a triple, giving them their biggest lead of the period. Horston hit another three to bring us within 22-17 by the end of the first. Plum kept rolling in the second, extending their lead to 34-25 with some driving layups. But you know our Emerald City warriors don't quit! Malonga hit two jumpers, and then rookie sensation Flau'jae Johnson added a three-pointer and a jumper during an awesome 11-0 streak that put us back in front, 36-34, with just over a minute left in the half. Then, *bam*, Rae Burrell hit a three at the buzzer to tie it up at halftime. Wild stuff, folks.

The Fourth Quarter Heartbreak

The second half started with L.A. breaking the tie, but our Storm answered with an 11-0 run of our own! Natisha Hiedeman, who overcame a slow start to lead us with 16 points, capped that run with a long jumper and a three-pointer, giving us a sweet 51-42 lead. We were feeling it! But L.A. just kept chipping away, with Brink pulling them within 67-66 heading into the final quarter. That's when Ogwumike took over, dropping seven of her game-high 24 points in the fourth, along with nine rebounds for the night. Our shooting was actually better than theirs, hitting 46.9% from the field compared to their 38.7%, but they hit a couple more threes than us overall. It came down to the wire, seriously, the wire. Hiedeman had a look, a potential tying three-pointer with only 6.3 seconds left, and it just didn't fall. Erica Wheeler then hit two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining to ice the game, 88-83. It's a gut punch when you're right there, you know? Flau'jae Johnson, our rookie, was an absolute beast, putting up 14 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. Dominique Malonga added 15 points, Awa Fam had 12, and Jordan Horston chipped in 11. Despite those fantastic individual efforts, the W just wasn't there.

What's Next for Our Storm?

Another tough loss at home, pushing our record to 3-11. It's frustrating to watch, especially when our team shows so much fight and gets huge performances from young players like Flau'jae Johnson. That kind of double-double from a rookie is special, but it’s heartbreaking that it wasn't enough to secure the win. We're now 0-5 in the Commissioner's Cup, and honestly, the whole season feels like it's slipping away if we don't find a way to start closing out these close games. Our Storm has to regroup, dust themselves off, and figure out how to turn these valiant efforts into victories. We've got to find that spark, that finishing touch. Let's hope they come out swinging next time, because these Seattle fans are desperate for a turnaround!

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