Alanna Smith wins battle of Australian Opals bigs

• Alanna Smith wins battle of the Australian Opals bigs as Minnesota Lynx hold off Seattle Storm by five points
• Smith finished with 16 points on 7-from-11 from the field
• Ezi Magbegor had six points and 10 rebounds

Alanna Smith won the battle of Australian Opals centres — Smith vs Ezi Magbegor — in (5-0) Minnesota Lynx narrow 82-77 win against (3-2) Seattle Storm at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday May 28, 2025.

Smith was flat-out outstanding finishing with 16 points on 7-from-11 from the field, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 28 minutes. She also hit two threes.

Magbegor struggled from the field in her 33 minutes, shooting 3-from-11 including 0-from-3 from three. She secured 10 rebounds, had three assists, a block and as always a significant presence on the defensive side of the ball.

Key Details

• Result: Minnesota Lynx 82 def. Seattle Storm 77
• When: 27th May 2025
• Where: Target Center, Minneapolis
• Standings: Minnesota Lynx (#1) | Seattle Storm (#5)

By the Numbers

• Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) starred with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 33 minutes.
• Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm) scored 20 points, and had four rebounds, six assists, one steal, and two blocks in 37 minutes.

What Happened

The Lynx established dominance early, racing to a commanding 26-11 lead in the first quarter behind Courtney Williams' efficient scoring and Napheesa Collier's defensive intensity. Seattle responded in the second quarter, outscoring Minnesota 18-13 to trim the deficit to 39-29 at halftime.

Seattle continued their comeback effort in the third quarter, with Gabby Williams leading the charge as the Storm outscored the Lynx 22-15. This narrowed Minnesota's lead to just 54-51 heading into the final period, setting up a tense finish.

The fourth quarter saw both teams trading baskets in a high-scoring shootout, with Minnesota putting up 28 points to Seattle's 26. Despite Seattle's valiant effort to complete the comeback, the Lynx maintained their composure down the stretch to secure the five-point victory and remain undefeated.

Courtney Williams was the difference-maker for Minnesota, shooting an impressive 10-from-18 from the field. Her ability to create her own shot and make plays for teammates kept Seattle's defense off-balance throughout the contest. Smith added 16 points on efficient 7-from-11 shooting, while Kayla McBride contributed 15 points, including three triples.

For Seattle, Gabby Williams delivered a strong all-around performance with 20 points and six assists, while Skylar Diggins-Smith added 18 points. However, turnovers proved costly for the Storm, who committed 14 miscues compared to Minnesota's 11. The Lynx capitalised on these opportunities, scoring 17 points off Seattle's mistakes.

Minnesota's shooting efficiency was the key statistical advantage, as they connected on 47.1% of their field goal attempts compared to Seattle's 43.3%. The Lynx were particularly effective from beyond the arc, hitting 36.8% of their three-point attempts, while the Storm struggled at just 25% from deep.

Magbegor had a strong showing for Seattle despite the loss, recording six points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes. Her presence in the paint was significant, but Minnesota's balanced attack ultimately proved too much for the Storm to overcome.

With this victory, Minnesota improved to a perfect 5-0 record, solidifying their position atop the WNBA standings. Seattle dropped to 3-2, falling further behind in the early playoff race.