For three quarters, Seattle seemed to have the advantage against Las Vegas. It was indeed the Storm who had started the game better, facing a A'ja Wilson who couldn't get his shots off the mark in the first half.
But the MVP woke up in the third quarter, and above all the two-time defending champions completely stifled their opponents in the fourth quarter.
Gabby Williams and her teammates only scored two small points in the last ten minutes, a “record” of mediocrity equaled for a quarter in the WNBA playoffs. Two points scored by Skylar Diggins-Smith on free throws, the Storm therefore ending the fourth quarter with a terrible 0/12 shooting…
A Game 2 already eliminatory…
“We'll have to watch the videos to understand what worked and what didn't.” explains the back of the Blues. “I'm still in shock after this fourth quarter. But we will learn.”
How can we explain this incredible breakdown, when it is the first time since 2006, and the introduction of quarter-times in the WNBA, that a team has finished without a single basket during a quarter-time in the playoffs?
“They had the sacred fire and we had no more gas” explains Nneka Ogwumike. “We didn't increase our energy level in the fourth quarter. There are several reasons for that. But against a team like that, it's a no-go. You can't win the game with a two-point quarter.”
Except that now, they have to bounce back. Game 2 will take place tomorrow night (3:30 a.m., Tuesday night) in Las Vegas, and the Aces can wrap up the series (played as the best of three games) if they win.
“You have to have a short memory”concludes Storm coach Noelle Quinn. “The only thing we can do with such a short notice is to progress through video and approach certain things that way. This game is over. There's no turning back. We're in a life-or-death situation. Do we extend the series? Or do we go home?”
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers attempted; LF = Free throws made / Free throws attempted; O = Offensive rebound; D = Defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose balls; Ct: Blocks; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the court; Pts = Points; Eval: Player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
