Uncasville, Conn—-The Seattle Storm picked up their first victory of the young season Sunday afternoon, using a strong second-half surge to pull away from the Connecticut Sun for an 89-82 road win in Uncasville.
Veteran guard Lexie Brown caught fire from beyond the arc, knocking down five three-pointers and leading Seattle with 17 points. Flau’jae Johnson added 16 points, while Jade Melbourne provided a major spark off the bench with 15 points and six assists.
Seattle overcame foul trouble to rookie center Dominique Malonga, who played only 20 minutes but still made her presence felt defensively with seven rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and six points.
The Sun kept the game close throughout the fourth quarter and nearly completed a comeback after Kennedy Burke drilled a three-pointer to trim Seattle’s lead to one with just over three minutes remaining. Brown quickly answered with an aggressive drive to the basket, igniting a late 8-1 run that helped the Storm regain control and seal the victory in the final minute.
Connecticut received another dominant effort from rookie Aneesah Morrow, who posted 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Brittney Griner added 16 points in the loss, while Burke contributed an all-around performance with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots.
Former college star Hailey Van Lith continued adjusting to her new opportunity in Connecticut, scoring nine points and dishing out four assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Van Lith joined the Sun earlier in the week after being waived by the Chicago Sky shortly after the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Seattle created separation late in the third quarter behind Brown’s shooting explosion. The veteran guard buried four three-pointers in less than two minutes as part of a decisive 13-0 run that turned a tight contest into a nine-point Storm advantage heading into the final frame.
The Storm also controlled several key statistical categories, knocking down 10 shots from three-point range, forcing turnovers with 10 steals, and dominating at the free-throw line.
Seattle will continue its road trip Wednesday with a matchup against Toronto, while Connecticut returns home to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
