The Seattle Storm snapped back into the WNBA win column on Sunday night, clinching their first triumph of the 2025 season with a gritty 79–71 victory over the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Fueled by standout performances from seasoned stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike, the Storm showed moments of grit and excellence that fans had long anticipated.
First-Half Firepower Ignites Seattle’s Surge
Seattle launched an offensive barrage from all directions, with a strong emphasis on three-point shooting. In a display of shooting so brilliant that only the lights being extinguished would do it justice, the Storm made 9 of 11 three-pointers in the first half, shooting a staggering 81.8% from distance. This attack gave them a dominating 56–41 halftime advantage.
Skylar Diggins-Smith, who was back from her maternity leave, appeared to be in classic form with 21 points and 9 assists. Nneka Ogwumike dominated the paint with authority, racking up 23 points and 19 rebounds, proving nearly unstoppable on both ends of the floor.
Wings Rally Falls Short Despite Paige Bueckers’ Big Night
Emerging talent Paige Bueckers led the charge for the Dallas Wings, posting a balanced stat line of 19 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds in a standout effort. She maintained the intensity level and almost orchestrated a rally that reduced the lead to only three at the end of the third quarter.
Full Game Highlights:
But inefficiency on the perimeter cost the Wings. They had just 4 of 19 from outside the arc and couldn’t take advantage of open shots. Star guard Arike Ogunbowale couldn’t get into a rhythm, with a season-low 8 points on 2-of-14 shooting.
Analysis: What This Win Means for the Storm
This victory was more than a digit in the win column for Seattle—it was a message. On the heels of a shaky opening night, the Storm showed they possess the veteran leadership and shooting depth to compete in a stacked WNBA landscape. If Diggins-Smith and Ogwumike get their clicks together and chemistry improves, this might be the break the team has been searching for.
Seattle’s defensive organization also comes in for praise. Despite Bueckers’ impressive showing, the Storm’s relentless defensive pressure and commanding edge on the boards disrupted Dallas’ offensive rhythm in the closing moments of the game.
Star Power in the Crowd
Joining in on the excitement, NBA greats Dirk Nowitzki and Victor Wembanyama were courtside, paying homage to the women’s game. Nowitzki especially could not sing enough praises about Paige Bueckers, labeling her “tremendous” and thrilled about her future in the WNBA.
What’s Next?
The Storm (1–1) will seek to carry this momentum forward into their next game, while the Wings (1–1) must regroup and establish consistency in their shooting if they are to take advantage of their young core.
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Key Stats Recap:
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nneka Ogwumike (SEA) | 23 | 19 | 2 |
| Skylar Diggins-Smith | 21 | 4 | 9 |
| Paige Bueckers (DAL) | 19 | 5 | 8 |
| Arike Ogunbowale | 8 | 2 | 3 |
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