GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Seattle used runs of 17-0 (second quarter) and 17-1 (third quarter) to put Connecticut away, as the Storm held the Sun to just 37.5 percent (27-for-72) shooting for the game, including 6-for-24 (25 percent) from beyond the arc.
• Sue Bird logged 23 minutes tonight, giving her 15,734 career minutes to pass Katie Smith (15,725) to move to second all-time in minutes played in WNBA history. Tina Thompson holds the all-time record with 16,089 minutes.
• Tonight’s announced attendance of 9,307 was the highest of the season for the Storm (previous high was 8,602 vs. Phoenix on Opening Night on 5/20/18).

KEY STATS OF THE GAME

• Between the 5:21 mark of the third quarter and the 6:01 tick of the fourth frame, the Storm held the Sun without a field goal, forcing 15 straight misses from the field with four turnovers.
• Seattle owned the paint by a 42-26 margin.
• The Storm held the Sun to just 70 points, tying Connecticut’s season-low (70 at Atlanta, 6/22/18).

STORM HIGHLIGHTS

• Breanna Stewart, the league’s leading scorer, posted 11 points to go along with five rebounds. She also tied a season-high with three blocks, her third time achieving that number.
• Jewell Loyd recorded 11 points and three assists.
• Natasha Howard posted a team-high 13 points and a team-best eight rebounds. She also had four blocks, tying a season-high. She has now achieved that three times this season.
• Sue Bird cashed in nine assists to go along with 11 points. She has dished out nine or more assists in four straight games, accumulating a total of 39 dimes in those games.
• With 48.5 seconds left in the first quarter, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis eclipsed the 500-point mark with a three-pointer. She finished with 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting, her fifth game in double figures.
• Jordin Canada came off the bench to tally 10 points, five assists and two steals. She has recorded five or more dimes four times this season.
• Crystal Langhorne scored a season-high seven points in 17 minutes off the bench.
•  The Storm closed the second quarter with a 19-3 run to turn a four-point (32-28) deficit into a 12-point (47-35) lead at the half. Jewell Loyd scored eight points during the run.
• Seattle improved to 10-0 when leading after the first quarter.
• In the final 6:45 of the third quarter, the Storm held the Sun to just three points and mustered a 17-1 run to take a 20-point (68-48) lead into the fourth quarter.
• The Storm improved its league-leading assist-to-turnover ratio to 1.54 (23 assists, 10 turnovers vs. Connecticut tonight).
• Seattle improved to 8-3 at home and collected its third-straight win at KeyArena.
• The Storm attempted a season-low eight free throws.
• Seattle improved to 10-1 with the starting lineup of Sue Bird, Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, Alysha Clark and Natasha Howard.
• With the win, Seattle improved to 2-0 this season against Connecticut and 10-8 all-time against the Sun at KeyArena.

SUN HIGHLIGHTS

• Alex Bentley came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points, her seventh game in double figures this season.
• In 22 minutes off the bench, Betnijah Laney scored a season-high 11 points on 5-for-8 shooting to go along with a season-high six rebounds.
• Jonquel Jones scored 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting, her sixth game in double figures in 2018.
• In her third WNBA season, Rachel Banham started in her first career game.
• Connecticut outrebounded Seattle, 39-34.
• The Sun outscored the Storm in the fourth quarter, 22-16.

STORM COACH DAN HUGHES
(On the game overall) “They are a very good team, but I thought that they way that we closed the first half was very important. Then we were able to play the second half, we ended up with six players scoring in double figures and there was balance in what we were doing both in the offense and the defense. We were able to give a lot of people minutes to play and at the same time not over play anyone. Connecticut is a good basketball team, it was a quality win.”

(On the third quarter) “We were playing out of our defense, so we had the ability to get runs. The other factor was we were playing in the paint, we got 42 points in the paint tonight. We got tough minded and said that we would play in the paint, and then we got creative about what that could bring. It was fun to watch us invest ourselves at both ends of the floor. Our offense and defense worked together. This team knows that we can win in different ways. Yes, we shot well offensively tonight but we are learning to find more ways to win, the team in becoming more invested in the total game.”

(On the balanced scoring) “A lot of our bench players contributed a lot tonight, we did not have to play any one for an extensive period of time. No one played 30 minutes today and that makes for a very good day. We had six players score double digits, no one played for more that 30 minutes, and we had 42 points in the paint. On top of that our defense was not soft, we played a good game. Now, off to New York.”

STORM GUARD SUE BIRD
(On her assist to Howard) “I don’t know if I have an answer. It kind of happened quick. When you do something like that, you just look back after and hope the player is where you though they were going to be. Luckily Natasha (Howard) was. I knew she was going to be open because of the way the play unfolded it was just a matter of I was going to get it there. I didn’t plan on that, but once I turned my back I just thought it was the only way to get it there.”

(On the team’s assists numbers being up the last couple games) “I think our offense lends to making the right pass at the right time. And that’s really all that I do. I’m not out there breaking down the defense and making the exciting pass every time. For the most part, I am just the player trying to do the right thing at the right time. When you have offensive threats the way we do and people who can make shots the way we do, it’s going to lend to a lot of assists. And it’s like I always say, ‘It takes two to tango.’ So, my teammates are doing a great job of scoring.”

STORM GUARD JORDIN CANADA
(On benefit of having six players in double-figures) “I don’t think it’s something we talk about, it’s just the flow of our offense: to try to get everyone involved. I think that’s just a testament to our team that we like sharing. Every other game you’ll get people who have 20-point games, but tonight we were just trying to create some offense for everybody. I think it shows that we like to share the ball.”

SUN HEAD COACH CURT MILLER 

(On the game) “We struggled to put the ball in the basket at times. I shared with them after the game that we executed to open shots tonight better than some nights, but we missed a lot of open shots. We didn’t stop a couple of their big runs. We had stretches where we were bad at the foul line to stop some big runs. Our execution wasn’t bad and we’re going to look at that. We got some of the open looks we were hoping for strategically against some of their action. I’m disappointed. We both took 30 shots in the paint, but they shot 70 percent in the paint and we shot 43 percent in the paint. You have to credit the length of (Natasha) Howard and (Breanna) Stewart. They make it difficult around the rim and we just didn’t have a great finishing night around the rim … but I still take a lot of positives out of that game.”

(On not answering Seattle’s big run) “That one big run we took a four-point lead in the second quarter. Our bench really gave us some energy when we had a slow start and we grinded our way back eventually to a four-point lead. Then I think it was a 170 run that we just couldn’t get stopped. It was real quick. It was 9-0 and we tried to stem the tide. A few missed open looks, a few missed foul shots that could’ve stopped that run, and before you know it, it’s a 17-0 run. When you look back on it, it was the one big difference in the game.”

(On their remaining schedule) “We knew how difficult the road schedule was and we’ve played the least amount of home games in the league, but we’re rewarded at the back end playing 11 of 15 (at home). We’re 5-1 at home so if we can just stay above water, we knew it was back loaded so we have to keep grinding before we get home.”

SUN FORWARD CHINEY OGWUMIKE 

(On the game) “We’re in the midseason point and we have a lot of different players playing big minutes for us and we’re still trying to figure out the pieces to the puzzle. Some days it’s going to be easier, some days it’s going to be harder, but nonetheless these challenges are going to make us better. Seattle is one of the best first quarter teams and they came out with a big punch. We handled it better in the second, but we have to make sure we don’t take any possession for granted and try to correct ourselves. We have to be better at every position, but I like our energy and intensity. It’s just one game we have to learn from.”

(On what the difference was when Seattle made that big run) “I just think they know who they are and they know their identity. They know how to space and know where people want to go and we’re still trying to figure that out. One of the strengths of our team is that we have so many people who can contribute, but one of the weaknesses is that we still are still trying to figure out how to make everyone play to their best at every position. They were aggressive and they know what they’re doing. This is a core that’s been playing together for three, four years and our team is ever changing. For us, it’s just a journey of trying to be better.”

(On grinding on the road) “We just have to play our brand of basketball, be confident in who we are and play hard. We’re one of those teams where 1-through-12 can play so we have to go and play our hearts out and then hope someone else steps up for us when we need a break. Road trips are tough and we’ve been on the road FOREVER this season. Just being able to learn and take this so when we do get home, we’ll be a better team for it.”

(On Sue Bird’s no-look pass to Natasha Howard) “She got lucky! (laughs) No, that’s standard Sue. That’s what we love about Sue Bird. It sucks to be on the other end, but at the same time it’s one of those things where that’s fun. I’d love one of those, you know what I’m saying?!”