Field Level Media
09 Sep 2025, 06:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)
The Seattle Storm get another chance at clinching a playoff spot when they host the Golden State Valkyries in their regular-season finale on Tuesday night.
Seattle had the opportunity to sew up a spot on Friday, but fell 84-76 to the New York Liberty.
The Storm (22-21) stand 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks (20-22) for the final playoff spot. Ironically, one of the reasons Seattle hasn't clinched is because it blew a 17-point lead against the Sparks on Labor Day in a 91-85 loss.
The back-to-back losses follow a stretch in which Seattle won five of six games.
'It's hard to win in this league,' All-Star guard Skylar Diggins said after the loss to New York. 'Obviously, we're disappointed with where we are, and that we are in this predicament.
'We need to come out and compete. If we don't do that, we don't belong in the playoffs.'
Diggins (14 points against New York) and All-Star post player Nneka Ogwumike (20 points, nine rebounds) weren't thrilled about the line of questioning, as some of it pertained to why a highly talented team is underachieving.
'We know we have a talented team and we've seen that talent,' Ogwumike said. 'I go in every day to compete and not expecting to lose. We try to win every night.'
Another Seattle All-Star, Gabby Williams, has 98 steals, third-most in WNBA history behind Tamika Catchings (99 in 2009) and Teresa Weatherspoon (100 in 1998).
Golden State (23-19) has clinched a playoff spot and currently holds the No. 6 seed, a half-game ahead of the Indiana Fever.
The Valkyries had a five-game winning streak halted Saturday when they lost 78-72 to the visiting Minnesota Lynx.
Golden State visits Minnesota on Thursday to close the regular season.
Kaila Charles and Janelle Salaun each had 15 points and eight rebounds on Saturday. Iliana Rupert added 15 points and six rebounds while Veronica Burton notched 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Charles averages just 6.2 points, but has scored in double digits in four of the last six games.
'I think just playing my game,' Charles said of her latest strong showing. 'My teammates were finding me. I wasn't necessarily settling and trying to get to the rim and finish.'
Golden State coach Natalie Nakase likes Charles' relentless nature.
'Kaila just attacks,' said Nakase. 'Credit to her for being confident.'
The Valkyries are 2-1 against the Storm this season. Seattle prevailed 67-58 when it hosted Golden State on July 16.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of San Diego Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Diego Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. federal judge stopped the Trump administration on August 31 from deporting a group of Guatemalan children,...
BOSTON, Massachusetts: A federal judge has handed Harvard University a significant victory in its escalating clash with the Trump administration,...
SAN FRANCISCO, California: A U.S. judge has ordered Google to change how its search engine operates, curbing tactics he deemed monopolistic...
(Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images) The Seattle Storm get another chance at clinching a playoff spot when they host the...
(Photo credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images) The San Francisco 49ers pulled out a 17-13 win over the division rival Seattle Seahawks...
(Photo credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images) YouTube reported a Nielsen-measured audience of 16.2 million viewers of...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks opened the new week with solid across-the-board gains on Monday, with the Nasdqaq Compoiste hitting...
WILMINGTON, Delaware: Elon Musk's latest pay deal at Tesla shows how dramatically the rules of the game can change depending on where...
KATHMANDU, Nepal: Nepal's government announced this week that it is blocking access to most major social media platforms — including...
JAIPUR, India: On the edge of Jaipur, a sprawling industrial hub has emerged as the focal point of India's ambitious drive to rival...
WASHINGTON D.C./TOKYO: U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order lowering tariffs on Japanese automobile imports and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump has long touted the billions flowing into federal coffers from his sweeping tariffs. However,...
