Stewart, Bird help Storm rout Aces; go up 2-0 in Finals
BRADENTON, FLA.» Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and Seattle moved within a victory of aWNBA championship, beating the Las Vegas Aces 104-91 on Sunday.
The Stormwill try towin their fourth title with a victory in Game 3 on Tuesday night. They won championships in 2004, 2010 and 2018, andSueBirdwas running the showin all three of them.
Two days after she set the WNBA Finals and playoffs record with 16 assists, the 39-year-old guard had 10 to go alongwith 16 points. The teamhad 33 assists to set a WNBAchampionshipround record as the Storm had a more balanced offense. Stewart had 37 points in the series opener and Jewell Loydadded28 inthat game.
On Sunday, the Storm had five players in double figures. Natasha Howard and Alysha Clark added 21 each to go along with Stewart and Bird’s efforts. Jordin
Canada added 10 points of the bench.
The Stormtook over after Las Vegas had rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half to take a 65-64 lead with 3:22 left in the third quarter Seattle scored 22 of the next 30 points over the next 6minutes to go up double-digits again with Jewell Loyd ending the burst with a 3-pointer that made it 8673with just under 7minutes left. Las Vegas couldn’t respond.
A’jaWilson had 20 points to lead Las Vegas while AngelMcCoughtry and Emma Cannonadded 17 each. Cannon provided a spark off the bench for theAces, who were missing SixthWoman of the Year DearicaHamby with a knee injury.
Trailing by six at the half, Las Vegas made a run to take a 53-52 lead on McBride’s 3-pointer early in the third quarter. The Aces led 65-64 with 3:22 left in the period before the Storm closed with a 11-3 burst.
Seattle held a 48-42 halftime lead behind 12 points fromStewart and Clark. The Storm, whohad17assistson their 18 baskets, built the lead to 13 before Las Vegas rallied to the six-point halftime deficit.
League honors
Wilson earnedAll-WNBA recognition for the first time in her young career. She was joined as a unanimous choice by Candace Parker of LosAngeles. Stewartwasone vote short of being unanimous. Courtney Vandersloot of Chicago and ArikeOgunbowaleofDallas rounded out the first team. Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith of Phoenix headlined the second team. They were joined by Dewanna Bonner of Connecticut, Myisha Hines-Allen of Washington and Napheesa Collier of Minnesota.