The 2.8 Seconds That Gutted the Storm, and Nobody Is Ready For Friday Night

We just got punched in the gut, Seattle. AGAIN. The Storm lost a brutal 80-78 game right here at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday, dropping us to a tough 1-4 record. It was a heartbreaker decided in the final seconds, with the Connecticut Sun stealing the win after they'd been on a five-game losing streak of their own. Ouch. Now we face them again, immediately, on Friday night, and you know our squad is coming for redemption.

How We Blew It in the Final Minute, Again

It felt like we were battling uphill all night, trailing for a vast majority of the game. But then, the Storm surged! We finally took the lead with only 59 seconds left, thanks to a driving layup from Jade Melbourne. Mackenzie Holmes then added two free throws with 40.8 seconds to go, extending our lead to three. The Emerald City was roaring! But then, Connecticut answered. Aaliyah Edwards made a driving layup with 32 seconds left, pulling them within 78-77. And then the gut-punch: Kennedy Burke converted a three-point play with a mere 2.8 seconds remaining. That was it. Our coach, Sonia Raman, said, "We just had to transition back better. We will be better on that one next time, but they got us on that one." Natisha Hiedeman, who led us with 20 points and five assists, had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but her 3-point attempt misfired. "It happens. I really wanted that win," Hiedeman said. "There was a lot of other areas we just need to clean up, though. I'm ready to play again on Friday already." That's the fight we need.

Malonga Still Out, But This Team Can Still Ball

It's no secret we're dealing with tough breaks. Our starting center, Dominique Malonga, is still sidelined, set to miss her third straight game as she continues in concussion protocol. That's a big deal, especially when Malonga averages 16.0 points and 7.3 rebounds for us. The Sun pulled off that win without their 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner, who was out with a right rib injury and is listed as questionable for Friday's matchup. Their rookie, Charlisse Leger-Walker, led them with 16 points and three assists. Their coach, Rachid Meziane, said they played "with a lot of pride" and "didn't panic." We need to match that pride on Friday. Natisha Hiedeman showed out despite the buzzer-beater miss, with 20 points and five assists, and we know she's hungry. Friday night isn't just another game, Seattle. It's the rubber game of this season series, after we beat them 89-82 on Mother's Day back in Connecticut. This is our chance to show what the Storm is truly made of after that brutal Wednesday defeat. Get ready to bring the noise, the energy, and every bit of your voice to Climate Pledge Arena because our Storm needs us, and they are going to leave everything on the court for this one. 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.