Skylar Diggins drops game-high 24 as Storm beat Sky

Skylar Diggins scored a game-high 24 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 21 as the Seattle Storm opened their five-game road swing with a 94-88 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night. The Storm, who led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter, withstood a late push from Chicago to secure the win.

Ogwumike sealed the contest with a clutch three-pointer in the final 36 seconds, pushing Seattle’s lead back to double digits. Both Diggins and Ogwumike connected on three shots from beyond the arc.



Dominique Malonga (15), Brittney Sykes (12) and Ezi Magbegor (11 points, eight rebounds) also chipped in, helping the Storm (18-18) stretch their lead to one game over idle Los Angeles in the battle for the final WNBA playoff spot.


The Sky (8-26) continued to struggle, falling to 1-11 since the All-Star break, but welcomed back Angel Reese after she missed seven of the past eight games with a back injury. The second-year forward posted 19 points and seven rebounds in her return, scoring just 46 seconds into the contest on a fast-break layup.


Ariel Atkins also scored 19 for Chicago, while Kia Nurse added 13. Kamilla Cardoso contributed 10 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Elizabeth Williams just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine boards.

Seattle built a 46-34 halftime lead thanks to sharp shooting. Diggins, Ogwumike and Gabby Williams combined for 32 points in the opening half as the Storm shot 57.6 percent from the field compared to Chicago’s 35 percent. A poor second quarter doomed the Sky, who went 6-for-22 while being outscored 26-14.

The Storm clinched the season series, having also beaten Chicago earlier this summer, and will host the Sky again on August 30.