Delle Donne and the Sky are too much as the Storm fall 94-84.

The Storm played tough tonight against a strong Chicago Sky team, but ultimately didn't have enough and dropped their first game back at home, 94-84. 


"They're number one in the league in scoring for a reason.  And they've been sitting here, waiting on us, resting, practicing.  And we've had three games in four nights, in three cities.  It's not to make an excuse, it's just reality ..... We were just a step slow.  So, against a good offensive team, when you're a step slow, it's going to be ... it's going to be tough." - Said Coach Jenny Boucek after the game.

Seattle's lead tonight was brief at the beginning of the game, but then Chicago Sky would take the lead quickly and never look back.  The Sky were led by five different players with 13 points or more.  Elena Delle Donne and Courtney Vandersloot tied for the team lead in points with 21 a piece.  Delle Donne was also a perfect 11-11 at the free throw line and pulled down eight rebounds.  Vandersloot led the Sky in assists with eight. 

The Sky went up 27-20 at the end of the first.  Delle Donne had seven points after the first quarter.  Markeisha Gatling led the Storm with an impressive first quarter, scoring eight points in under four minutes.  Chicago would push their lead to 52-41 at half-time.  The Sky would open the 3rd quarter on an 8-0 run to push the lead to 19, 60-41. 

Jewell Loyd had the most impressive play of the game for the Storm when she grabbed a rebound with 6.8 seconds left in the 3rd quarter and raced down the court past several defenders and laid it up as the buzzer sounded.  The Storm would eventually cut the lead down to six with 9:43 left in the game (65-71); but they wouldn't get any closer.

Markeisha Gatling was the star for the Storm tonight as she would lead the team in scoring with 16 points.  Gatling has been getting more playing time as she adjusts to the new team and new system.  Coach Bouceck talked about Gatling and KML getting more playing time as the season progresses and they learn the system.

Gatling said, “It takes time with the offense we run. It’s kind of complicated at times so it took me a little time to get into it but I knew once I got it, it would be a good fit.”


WHAT'S NEXT?:
The Storm host the San Antonio Stars this Sunday 08/16 at 6:00pm.