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Semifinals: Storm clinch WNBA Finals berth, Aces force Game 5 with Sun

Photo Credit: Stephen Gosling/NBAE/Getty Images

From the first opening tip in the wubble, the Seattle Storm have looked like a team that is on a mission – take back what they believe is rightfully theirs.

Without Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart last season, the Storm still made the playoffs but were mired at the sixth seed and were bounced out of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Sparks, who themselves were eventually thrashed in last season’s semifinals by the Connecticut Sun.

This season, the Storm are fully healthy once again – and have their eyes on bringing the prize once again to the Emerald City.

Seattle is three wins shy of accomplishing that feat for the fourth time in the franchise’s history which would put the Storm alongside the Houston Comets and Minnesota Lynx as franchises to claim a quintet of crowns.

Minnesota gave it its best efforts, but everyone knew its semifinal series was the Storm’s to lose – and Seattle did not disappoint by virtue of its 92-71 victory over the Lynx to clinch a berth in the WNBA Finals.

Stewie wanted to make sure that there was little doubt about this game’s victor. She posted 31 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals along with a pair of blocked shots.

What also helped was Sue Bird posting a 16-point, nine rebound outing plus 10 points and six rebounds courtesy of Mercedes Russell. Alysha Clark also hauled in nine rebounds.

Four for the Lynx finished with double-digit point outputs – including Napheesa Collier’s 22 points and 15 rebounds. Damiris Dantas and Crystal Dangerfield each scored 16 with Dantas also bringing in seven rebounds and four assists while Dangerfield contributed five rebounds. Odyssey Sims added 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.

With the Storm’s ticket in the WNBA Finals secure, the top question on the minds of W enthusiasts was which team will be the Storm’s opponent – Las Vegas or Connecticut?

After Alyssa Thomas’ unbelievable performance in Game 3 to lift the Sun to a 2-1 lead, it looked as if we were careening down the road to a Seattle-Connecticut Finals.

Angel McCoughtry had other ideas for the Sun’s Cinderella story.

Sixteen of McCoughtry’s 29 points came in the second half – including a third quarter that saw the Aces outscore the Sun 28-16. It was the difference in the game after Connecticut led at the half 38-37.

By virtue of Las Vegas’ 84-75 victory, the semifinals will be going to a Game 5 – even though the Aces will be without Sixth Woman of the Year Dearica Hamby for that Game 5 because of a knee injury.

A’ja Wilson and Danielle Robinson each scored 18 points with Wilson also notching 13 rebounds and four assists. Robinson also contributed five rebounds and four assists. Kayla McBride scored 11.

Jasmine Thomas paced the Sun with 25 points and six assists. Alyssa Thomas tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones each scored 10 with Bonner also dishing out four assists and grabbing 15 rebounds.

Jones also brought in four boards.

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