Nneka Ogwumike scores 17, Storm spoil Diana Taurasi's night with 89-70 win over Mercury
PHOENIX (AP) Nneka Ogwumike scored 17 points and the Seattle Storm spoiled what could be the final home game of Diana Taurasi's 20-year career with an 89-70 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night.
Taurasi had nine points on 3-of-9 shooting in 18 minutes, returning after the crowd started a chant of “We want DT!” in the closing minutes. She returned less than a minute later to another chant - “One more year!” - and addressed the crowd following a tribute video.
Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 11 points.
The Storm (25-15) were already locked in the WNBA's No. 5 playoff seed and will open the first round Sunday at the Las Vegas Aces in a best-of-three series.
Phoenix (19-21) has locked up the No. 7 seed and will play No. 2 Minnesota in a best-of-three first round series starting Sunday, but there’s no certainty Taurasi will be back for another game in the desert. The Lynx could end Taurasi’s career - if this indeed is it - by sweeping the first two games.
Mercury players honored Taurasi before the game, wearing her jersey with a goat - Greatest Of All Time - in the No. 3 during player introductions. The 42-year-old Taurasi has not said whether she will retire after this season, but has hinted this might be it.
Taurasi's place as one of the greatest women's basketball players of all-time is unquestioned, a resume that includes multiple championships and records.
The Storm were intent on spoiling Taurasi's night, scoring the game's first 10 points. Taurasi - of course - ended the run with a 3-pointer, but it didn't stop the Storm's push.
Seattle shot 15 of 22 in the first quarter to lead 35-14 while the Mercury struggled to get into an offensive flow. Phoenix had nearly as many turnovers (five) as field goals (six) and looked disjointed through most of the quarter.
The Mercury were better in the second quarter, opening the second quarter with a 7-0 run while cutting the lead to 43-31 by halftime. Ogwumike had 14 points.
The Storm surged again in the third quarter while the Mercury foundered again, stretching the lead to 68-49. Phoenix tried to mount a rally in the fourth quarter, but Seattle pushed back every time, running away with a road victory in possibly the final home game of Taurasi's career.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 1st Quarter | |||
10:00 | Jump Ball: Brittney Griner vs. Mercedes Russell. | |||
9:45 | Kahleah Copper misses a layup. | |||
9:45 | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:28 | +2 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes a layup. | 2-0 | |
9:13 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
9:13 | Sami Whitcomb with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:04 | Sami Whitcomb misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
9:04 | Gabby Williams with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:00 | +2 | Gabby Williams makes a layup. | 4-0 | |
8:47 | Gabby Williams steals the ball from Natasha Cloud. | |||
8:39 | +3 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Gabby Williams with the assist. | 7-0 | |
8:19 | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | |||
8:19 | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | |||
8:00 | +3 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 10-0 | |
7:42 | Personal foul committed by Mercedes Russell. | |||
7:35 | Brittney Griner misses a layup. | |||
7:35 | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:27 | Gabby Williams with a turnover - Lost Ball | |||
7:12 | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 10-3 | |
6:54 | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a layup. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 12-3 | |
6:39 | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | |||
6:39 | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:24 | +3 | Gabby Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 15-3 | |
6:07 | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 15-5 | |
5:56 | Skylar Diggins-Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
5:56 | Sami Whitcomb with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:45 | Mercedes Russell misses a layup. | |||
5:45 | Mercedes Russell with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:41 | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a tip shot from 4 feet out. | 17-5 | |
5:30 | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 17-7 | |
5:20 | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a jump shot from 20 feet out. Sami Whitcomb with the assist. | 19-7 | |
5:00 | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a layup. | 19-9 | |
4:48 | +3 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 22-9 | |
4:32 | Diana Taurasi misses a layup. | |||
4:32 | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:25 | +3 | Sami Whitcomb makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Gabby Williams with the assist. | 25-9 | |
4:23 | Mercury take a full timeout. | |||
4:23 | Substitution: Amy Atwell in for Kahleah Copper. | |||
4:23 | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Sophie Cunningham. | |||
4:23 | Substitution: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan in for Brittney Griner. | |||
4:23 | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Diana Taurasi. | |||
4:23 | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Natasha Cloud. | |||
3:59 | Mercury with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
3:47 | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a layup. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 27-9 | |
3:33 | Mercedes Russell steals the ball from Celeste Taylor. | |||
3:22 | +2 | Sami Whitcomb makes a layup. | 29-9 | |
3:15 | Celeste Taylor with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
3:15 | Substitution: Jordan Horston in for Nneka Ogwumike. | |||
3:15 | Substitution: Joyner Holmes in for Skylar Diggins-Smith. | |||
3:15 | Storm take a full timeout. | |||
3:05 | Gabby Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
3:05 | Sami Whitcomb with an offensive rebound. | |||
2:58 | Joyner Holmes misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
2:58 | Monique Billings with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:41 | Monique Billings misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
2:41 | Storm with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:25 | Sami Whitcomb misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | |||
2:25 | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:03 | Jordan Horston blocks a Mikiah Herbert Harrigan jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
2:03 | Joyner Holmes with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:49 | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. Gabby Williams with the assist. | 31-9 | |
1:38 | Celeste Taylor misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
1:38 | Joyner Holmes with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:26 | Joyner Holmes with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
1:26 | Substitution: Kahleah Copper in for Amy Atwell. | |||
1:26 | Substitution: Brittney Griner in for Natasha Mack. | |||
1:26 | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Celeste Taylor. | |||
1:26 | Substitution: Victoria Vivians in for Gabby Williams. | |||
1:26 | Substitution: Nika Muhl in for Sami Whitcomb. | |||
1:15 | Monique Billings with a turnover - Bad Pass | |||
59.9 | Mercedes Russell misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
59.9 | Mercedes Russell with an offensive rebound. | |||
54.8 | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a jump shot from 15 feet out. | 33-9 | |
45.4 | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
45.4 | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | |||
35.2 | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 33-12 | |
14.3 | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Nika Muhl with the assist. | 35-12 | |
04.2 | Personal foul committed by Victoria Vivians. | |||
4:23 | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Natasha Cloud. | |||
0.0 | End of the 1st Quarter |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Start of the 2nd Quarter | |||
10:00 | Substitution: Sophie Cunningham in for Mikiah Herbert Harrigan. | |||
10:00 | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Monique Billings. | |||
10:00 | Substitution: Skylar Diggins-Smith in for Joyner Holmes. | |||
9:47 | Victoria Vivians misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | |||
9:47 | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:25 | Mercedes Russell blocks a Kahleah Copper layup. | |||
9:25 | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | |||
9:21 | Diana Taurasi misses a layup. | |||
9:21 | Storm with a defensive rebound. | |||
9:02 | Brittney Griner steals the ball from Jordan Horston. | |||
9:02 | Shooting foul committed by Nika Muhl. | |||
8:37 | +2 | Sophie Cunningham makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 35-16 | |
8:15 | Personal foul committed by Kahleah Copper. | |||
8:15 | Substitution: Nneka Ogwumike in for Nika Muhl. | |||
8:06 | Diana Taurasi steals the ball from Victoria Vivians. | |||
8:02 | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 35-19 | |
7:47 | Jordan Horston misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
7:47 | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:37 | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 31 feet out. | |||
7:37 | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | |||
7:25 | Personal foul committed by Natasha Cloud. | |||
7:25 | Substitution: Gabby Williams in for Jordan Horston. | |||
7:25 | Substitution: Sami Whitcomb in for Victoria Vivians. | |||
7:13 | Jump Ball: Nneka Ogwumike vs. Diana Taurasi. | |||
7:07 | Sami Whitcomb misses a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. | |||
7:07 | Storm with an offensive rebound. | |||
7:07 | Storm with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
6:57 | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | |||
6:57 | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:47 | Skylar Diggins-Smith misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | |||
6:47 | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:26 | Shooting foul committed by Skylar Diggins-Smith. | |||
6:26 | Brittney Griner misses free throw 1 of 2. | |||
6:26 | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | |||
6:26 | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Diana Taurasi. | |||
6:26 | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 2 of 2. | 35-20 | |
6:11 | Nneka Ogwumike misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
6:11 | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | |||
6:00 | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | |||
6:00 | Brittney Griner with an offensive rebound. | |||
5:49 | Shooting foul committed by Gabby Williams. | |||
5:49 | Official TV timeout. | |||
5:49 | +1 | Sophie Cunningham makes free throw 1 of 2. | 35-21 | |
5:49 | +1 | Sophie Cunningham makes free throw 2 of 2. | 35-22 | |
5:39 | +2 | Gabby Williams makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Sami Whitcomb with the assist. | 37-22 | |
5:15 | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a jump shot from 15 feet out. Celeste Taylor with the assist. | 37-24 | |
4:55 | Shooting foul committed by Brittney Griner. | |||
4:55 | +1 | Nneka Ogwumike makes free throw 1 of 2. | 38-24 | |
4:55 | +1 | Nneka Ogwumike makes free throw 2 of 2. | 39-24 | |
4:33 | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
4:33 | Sami Whitcomb with a defensive rebound. | |||
4:11 | Kahleah Copper steals the ball from Sami Whitcomb. | |||
4:05 | +3 | Sophie Cunningham makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 39-27 | |
3:48 | +2 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes a layup. Gabby Williams with the assist. | 41-27 | |
3:48 | Mercury take a full timeout. | |||
3:48 | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Celeste Taylor. | |||
3:30 | Shooting foul committed by Skylar Diggins-Smith. | |||
3:30 | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 1 of 2. | 41-28 | |
3:30 | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 2 of 2. | 41-29 | |
3:20 | Sophie Cunningham steals the ball from Sami Whitcomb. | |||
3:14 | Sophie Cunningham misses a layup. | |||
3:14 | Skylar Diggins-Smith with a defensive rebound. | |||
3:07 | Nneka Ogwumike misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
3:07 | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | |||
2:51 | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 41-31 | |
2:36 | Storm take a full timeout. | |||
2:24 | Sophie Cunningham steals the ball from Gabby Williams. | |||
2:16 | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | |||
2:16 | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:52 | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a jump shot from 9 feet out. Sami Whitcomb with the assist. | 43-31 | |
1:35 | Diana Taurasi misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
1:35 | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | |||
1:16 | Sami Whitcomb misses a jump shot from 12 feet out. | |||
1:16 | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | |||
49.7 | Mercury with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | |||
29.2 | Nneka Ogwumike misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | |||
29.2 | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | |||
09.9 | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | |||
09.9 | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | |||
01.1 | Gabby Williams misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | |||
01.1 | Storm with an offensive rebound. | |||
0.0 | End of the 2nd Quarter | |||
10:00 | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Monique Billings. | |||
10:00 | Substitution: Skylar Diggins-Smith in for Joyner Holmes. | |||
9:02 | Shooting foul committed by Nika Muhl. |