Fansided

Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird lead Storm to Game 1 win of WNBA Finals

By Gerald Bourguet

PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Breanna Stewart #30 and Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm walk out to meet the team during a timeout in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces at Feld Entertainment Center on October 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
PALMETTO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Breanna Stewart #30 and Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm walk out to meet the team during a timeout in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces at Feld Entertainment Center on October 02, 2020 in Palmetto, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm took a 1-0 lead in the WNBA Finals opener.

One down, two to go.

Behind historic nights from Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird, the Seattle Storm took Game 1 of the 2020 WNBA Finals in a matchup that featured six No. 1 overall draft picks.

While the Las Vegas Aces tried to make it a game with a second-half comeback attempt, the Storm’s strong fourth quarter helped seal the deal and give Seattle a 1-0 lead in this best-of-five series.

Stewart, a former MVP coming off a torn Achilles in April of 2019, was absolutely unstoppable on Friday, notching a game-high 37 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks on 15-of-24 shooting. In the process, she became the first player in WNBA Finals history to record at least 35 points and 15 boards.

https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1312194724640550917?s=20

The 39-year-old Sue Bird, just two weeks away from her 40th birthday, notched a career-high, WNBA Finals record and WNBA playoff record 16 assists, including 10 in the first half. Bird only scored 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting, but between Stewart’s 37 points and another 28 from Jewell Loyd, the Storm really only needed her exceptional playmaking to hold the Aces off.

Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird led the Storm to victory in Game 1

Reigning MVP A’ja Wilson struggled for the Aces in Game 1, finishing with 19 points and 6 rebounds on 6-of-20 shooting. Las Vegas was led in scoring by Angel McCoughtry, who finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds but also struggled from the field, going 6-of-15 overall.

Despite trailing by as many as 19 points early on, Las Vegas came storming back and even tied the game at 67 at one point. When the Aces had cut Seattle’s lead to two points heading into the fourth quarter, Breanna Stewart rose to the occasion, scoring the Storm’s first 11 points of the final frame to help open up a lead for her team again. Her 37 points nearly matched McCoughtry’s previous WNBA Finals scoring record.

Game 2 of this best-of-five championship series will take place on Sunday as the Aces look to even the score against this dangerous and experienced Storm squad.

Next. Storm vs. Aces is a battle of opposites. dark

Home/WNBA