A record is bound to be broken every time Sue Bird steps on a basketball court. The WNBA’s all-time assist leader led the Seattle Storm with eight assists to help set a WNBA record of 37 team assists in a critical late-season victory over the Chicago Sky Tuesday night. Seattle also tied a franchise record with 111 points.
The 111-100 road victory also saw Breanna Stewart (25 points, nine rebounds, four assists), Gabby Williams (21 points, seven assists, four rebounds), Jewell Loyd (18 points, four rebounds, three assists), and Tina Charles (14 points, seven rebounds, three assists) make significant contributions in an all-around team display.
“When you have a team sharing the basketball like that, it’s hard to beat,” Seattle acting coach Pokey Chatman, who is filling in for head coach Noelle Quinn because of health and safety protocols, said per ESPN. “That’s the first thing I said when we went in the locker room. I went around and shook their hands and reminded of them that because Chicago’s a really good offensive and defensive team.”
Seven Storm players, including all five starters, finished with at least three assists.
While Chicago still stands atop the WNBA standings, Seattle is now within one win, or Washington Mystics loss, of clinching a top-four seed and home court advantage for the opening rounds of the playoffs, which begin Aug. 17. The Storm sit at second place in the Western Conference with just two regular-season games remaining.
“Every win is vital,” said Williams. “That’s all I was thinking about tonight. I was thinking about that home-court advantage. Of course, it always feels nice to have a game like this, but tonight was just about what it meant for us for this road trip, for our ranking, and I think for myself to see what I can do against these teams.”
Photos via Getty Images.
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