Storm secure WNBA crown

FAIRFAX, Va. — Breanna Stewart led the Seattle Storm to their third WNBA title Wednesday, scoring 30 points in a 98-82 victory over the Washington Mystics in Game 3 to sweep the WNBA Finals.

Natasha Howard added a career-high 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Storm, the top seed entering the playoffs.

Stewart was the league MVP and was selected the Finals MVP after averaging 25.6 points in the three games. She scored 17 points in the first half as the Storm raced to a 47-30 lead.

Sue Bird, also a member of a Seattle’s championship teams in 2004 and 2010, was certainly appreciative of the title.

“Each (championship) is special in its own way, but this one is probably going to have a different meaning for me,” said Bird, a 37-year-old point guard, who had 10 points and 10 assists. “There is probably no comparison to be honest. I didn’t know if I’d be playing at this point.”

Elena Delle Donne scored 23 points for the Mystics. Kristi Toliver had 22 points.

“Obviously this finals didn’t go the way we wanted it. The great thing is we can still improve. We don’t feel like we peaked and this is it for us,” Delle Donne said.

Alysha Clark had 15 points for Seattle. Since the league went to a best-of-five format in 2005, four teams trailed 0-2. Each lost Game 3.

The Mystics joined that unwanted club. Poor perimeter shooting contributed. Washington finished 8-for-23 on 3-pointers in Game 3 and 11-for-60 (18.3) in the series.