Erica Wheeler drained a go-ahead 16-footer with 19.2 seconds left and the Seattle Storm clinched the WNBA’s closing playoff spot with a dramatic 74-73 victory over the visiting Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday evening.
Because the Los Angeles Sparks had been beating the Phoenix Mercury to maintain their playoff hopes alive, Wheeler doused them with the clutch shot from the best aspect of the free-throw line to cap a 17-point outing off the bench that included 5 3-pointers.
Nneka Ogwumike recorded 16 factors and eight rebounds for eighth-place Seattle (23-21). Brittney Sykes scored 14 factors and Skylar Diggins had 10.
Janelle Salaun made 5 3-pointers and had 22 factors for Golden State (23-20), however she missed two late pictures — one from inside and the opposite from 3-point vary — on the Valkyries’ closing possession. Golden State fell into seventh place with the defeat and the Indiana Fever’s win over the Minnesota Lynx.
Veronica Burton registered 14 factors and 11 assists, Temi Fagbenle additionally scored 14 factors and Kaila Charles had 12 factors and 9 boards for Golden State.
Seattle shot 40.6 % from the sector, however was 7 of 17 (41.2 %) from 3-point vary.
Golden State made 40 % of its pictures and was 10 of 29 (34.5 %) from behind the arc.
Iliana Rupert swished a 3-pointer to provide the Valkyries a 73-72 lead with 37.4 seconds remaining earlier than Wheeler’s massive shot.
Seattle confronted an eight-point deficit when the fourth quarter started earlier than ripping off the primary 10 factors of the stanza. Wheeler linked on two treys throughout the run, the latter one giving the Storm a 63-61 lead with 7:37 left within the contest.
Golden State regained the lead at 68-67 on a 3-pointer by Salaun with 2:36 left. However Wheeler linked on a trey 25 seconds later to place Seattle again forward.
After Fagbenle tied the rating at 70 on a layup, Diggins cut up two free throws because the Storm led by one with 1:17 to go.
Ogwumike cut up two free throws with 41.4 seconds remaining to push the Seattle result in two.
Seattle trailed by three at halftime and shortly discovered itself down by seven. However the Storm answered with a 12-2 run and Wheeler capped it with a trey that gave Seattle a 50-47 lead with 4:01 left within the third quarter.
The Valkyries responded with 13 straight factors to open a 10-point benefit. Salaun buried consecutive treys to begin the burst and Billings added a 3-pointer to make it 56-50 with 2:25 left. Burton and Billings added baskets to finish the run.
Golden State led 61-53 coming into the fourth quarter.
Charles had 12 first-half factors because the Valkyries led 36-33 on the break.
–Discipline Stage Media
