Storm set WNBA record with 37 assists in victory

The Seattle Storm set a WNBA document Tuesday night time with 37 assists in a vital 111-100 highway win over the Chicago Sky.

The Storm surpassed the earlier excessive of 35, reached 3 times in league historical past in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info analysis, together with earlier this season by the New York Liberty.

Almost the entire assists — and tying the franchise document for factors — had been wanted within the fifth WNBA sport this season the place each groups reached triple-digit scoring.

Seattle led by eight, 103-95, with 1:50 remaining earlier than Breanna Stewart’s 3-pointer off a Gabby Williams feed prolonged the result in double-digits and tied the document. The Storm then broke it on a Sue Hen 3-pointer assisted by Stewart within the closing minute earlier than including a thirty seventh help with the win already in hand.

“When you’ve gotten a crew sharing the basketball like that, it is exhausting to beat,” stated appearing head coach Pokey Chatman, filling in for a second consecutive sport with Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn lacking due to the WNBA’s well being and security protocols. “That is the very first thing I stated once we went within the locker room. I went round and shook their fingers and reminded of them that as a result of Chicago’s a very good offensive and defensive crew.”

Hen, the WNBA’s all-time assists chief, was liable for a team-high eight. Williams handed out seven, simply the third time in her profession she has had that many, along with reaching 20 factors for the second time this season. 4 of Williams’ seven assists went to Stewart, a mix courting again to their UConn days Williams highlighted after the sport.

“Simply the way in which she’s in a position to transfer with out the ball and I can discover her, I believe we have had a superb tandem, particularly tonight,” she stated. “It makes it a lot enjoyable. I do know once I’m driving I’ve choices. I believe my teammates are discovering me as effectively. We’re discovering one another very well.”

All advised, seven Storm gamers — together with all 5 starters — completed with a minimum of three assists, tying a WNBA document that had been reached 5 occasions beforehand. For the season, 75% of Seattle’s discipline targets have been assisted. Though the Storm will nearly actually surpass the earlier excessive of 72% by the 1999 Charlotte Sting, additionally they want to carry off the Sky, whose help fee stands at 74% after Tuesday’s sport.

The win over Chicago, which nonetheless stands atop the WNBA standings with a 25-9 document, moved Seattle inside one win or loss by the Washington Mystics of clinching a top-four seed and home-court benefit within the opening spherical of the playoffs.

With the Mystics ending the season by going through the 5-29 Indiana Fever house and away, that more than likely means the Storm will want a further victory of their closing two video games, Friday on the Minnesota Lynx and Sunday on the Las Vegas Aces.

“Each win is important,” stated Williams. “That is all I used to be eager about tonight. I used to be eager about that home-court benefit. In fact it all the time feels good to have a sport like this, however tonight was nearly what it meant for us for this highway journey, for our rating and I believe for myself to see what I can do towards these groups.”