Seattle Storm Shock WNBA With Last-Second Buzzer-Beater — Replay the Epic Finish

SEATTLE — Fresh off celebrating a franchise-record three All-Star selections, the Seattle Storm continue to surge up the WNBA standings behind a balanced attack anchored by veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike, versatile wing Gabby Williams and floor general Skylar Diggins -Smith. All three were formally named to the 2025 All-Star Game on Tuesday, marking the first time since 2018 the Storm will send a trio to the mid-season showcase. The recognition caps a dominant two-week stretch in which Seattle posted a 5-1 record, highlighted by a statement 79-70 road victory over the New York Liberty in which Williams poured in 16 points and Ogwumike added 15 to snap the Liberty’s eight-game home winning streak. Head coach Noelle Quinn credited the club’s revamped defense—currently second in opponent field-goal percentage—for the turnaround, noting that “our length on the perimeter and Ezi Magbegor’s rim protection are dictating games.” Seattle sits at 13-9 entering Wednesday night’s Western Conference showdown with the expansion Golden State Valkyries, the first meeting between the two franchises at Climate Pledge Arena. The Storm list only reserve guard Jordan Horston (illness) as questionable on the latest injury report, while the Valkyries could be without starter Kayla Thornton due to an ankle sprain. A win would give Seattle the season series tiebreaker and nudge the club within one game of the conference lead. Beyond the standings, Seattle’s mid-season momentum is reshaping expectations. Local analysts now project the four-time champions as legitimate contenders in a loaded West, pointing to Ogwumike’s two-way impact and Diggins-Smith’s league-best 8.4 assists per game as evidence the roster has already exceeded preseason projections. Key stretch upcoming • July 16 vs. Golden State — first Valkyries visit to Seattle • July 19 at Phoenix — rematch of overtime thriller from June • July 21 vs. Los Angeles — Ogwumike reunion game against former team Fan engagement is already spiking: ticket demand for the Valkyries game has driven secondary-market prices 30 percent higher than any other mid-week matchup this season, and the Storm report their official mobile app downloads are up 42 percent month-over-month. If Seattle can maintain its top-three defense while continuing to spread the offensive load—six different players have led the team in scoring over the past eight games—the Storm could be primed for their deepest postseason run since the 2020 championship bubble. For a franchise that spent the last two summers rebuilding in the post-Sue Bird era, the 2025 Storm are suddenly right back in the eye of the title picture, and this time the forecast calls for more thunder than rain.