Jade Melbourne steps up amid Magbegor injury

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Australian point guard Jade Melbourne picked up the slack for injured Opals teammate Ezi Magbegor as Seattle secured its first win of WNBA 2026, beating the Connecticut Sun 89-82 on Monday, May 11, 2026 (AEDT).

Melbourne, 23, was +4 in 23 minutes, going 4-for-7 en route to 15 points, six assists, one rebound a steal and a block in the seven-point win.

Magbegor, 26, signed a maximum deal with the Storm before the start of the season but is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks after suffering a right foot injury while playing for Australia at the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Turkey.

“Injuries are unfortunate, but I’m feeling good,” Magbegor said.

“Obviously, it’s just nice to be back here in Seattle and with the team.

“That was something that I really just wanted to do – be back here for the start of training camp and be able to support the team for the next few weeks.”

It’s the first time Magbegor has been out for an extended period because of injury.

“It’s definitely my first time being injured for that amount of time, so it’s about finding ways to still be part of the team from the sideline,” she said.

“But I’m still working to get back in those six-to-eight weeks, so I’m just taking it day by day, working with the medical team here and just taking it day by day.”

Magbegor’s three-year deal is USD $1.25M per season, making her one of the highest-paid players in the league, alongside Opals frontcourt partner and Dallas Wings franchise player Alanna Smith.

“It definitely meant a lot,” Magbegor added.

“I say this all the time – I’ve kind of grown up in Seattle, so Seattle is definitely important to me and the organisation as well.

“For them to see me as an important piece of their future going forward was something I obviously acknowledged.

“Signing the three-year deal and seeing the commitment they’re making in me, and the commitment I want to make to the city and the organisation, is something that I’m excited about.

“It was a pretty nice feeling.”

Seattle is 1-1 to start the season.

Seattle Storm 89 def. Connecticut Sun 82‍

Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville
2026 WNBA Season

Melbourne helped the Seattle Storm secure an 89–82 road win against the Connecticut Sun on May 10, 2026 (AEST) as fellow Australian Ezi Magbegor missed the game through injury.

Melbourne produced one of the best bench performances of the game with 15 points and six assists in 23 minutes, attacking the rim consistently and finishing 6-from-11 at the free-throw line.

Seattle outscored Connecticut 26–21 in the fourth quarter after entering the final period tied at 63.

Lexie Brown sparked the Storm from the bench with 17 points on 5-from-6 shooting from three-point range, while rookie Flau’jae Johnson added 16 points and Dominique Malonga contributed six points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

The Storm shot 45% from three-point range and forced 16 Connecticut turnovers.

Australian Opals star Magbegor was unavailable because of a right knee injury.

Connecticut was led by Aneesah Morrow, who posted 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Brittney Griner added 16 points and six rebounds.

New Zealand guard Charlisse Leger-Walker scored six points and had two assists in her second WNBA appearance.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 29–24, 15–25, 19–12, 26–21
• Largest Lead: Seattle by 10
• Game Flow: Seattle regained control defensively in the second half before pulling away late behind its bench scoring.

Australians

🇦🇺 Jade Melbourne (Seattle Storm) – 23 mins │ 15 pts │ 4–7 FG │ 1–2 3PT │ 6–11 FT │ 1 reb │ 6 ast │ 1 stl │ 1 blk
🇦🇺 Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm) – DNP (right knee injury)

Key Performers

• Lexie Brown (Seattle) – 17 pts │ 5–6 3PT
• Flau’jae Johnson (Seattle) – 16 pts │ 6 reb
• Jade Melbourne (Seattle) – 15 pts │ 6 ast
• Aneesah Morrow (Connecticut) – 17 pts │ 16 reb
• Brittney Griner (Connecticut) – 16 pts │ 6 reb

By the Numbers

Seattle Storm: 44% FG │ 45% 3PT │ 32 reb │ 14 ast │ 10 stl
Connecticut Sun: 40% FG │ 35% 3PT │ 41 reb │ 18 ast │ 16 TO

New York Liberty 98 def. Washington Mystics 93 (OT)‍

CareFirst Arena – Washington D.C.
2026 WNBA Season

The New York Liberty survived a furious Washington comeback and a controversial late out-of-bounds call to defeat the Mystics 98–93 in overtime on May 10, 2026 (AEST).

Australian duo Georgia Amoore and Ally Wilson featured for Washington, while Rebecca Allen did not play for New York.

With 24 seconds remaining and Washington trailing by two, officials ruled Mystics guard Sonia Citron lost the ball out of bounds on the sideline despite replays showed the ball was last touched by New York.

The turnover effectively ended Washington’s comeback hopes after the Mystics erased a 14-point second-quarter deficit to force overtime.

Rookie Amoore, who didn't play down the stretch, finished with seven points and seven assists in her second WNBA game, while Wilson had five points and four rebounds off the bench.

Marine Johannes led the Liberty with 25 points and six made threes, while Breanna Stewart added 23 points and nine rebounds.

Washington rookie Kiki Iriafen continued her strong start to the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Shakira Austin posted a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.

The Mystics shot just 19% from three-point range but dominated the glass 42–34 and collected 19 offensive rebounds.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 24–31, 31–17, 17–21, 13–16, 13–8
• Largest Lead: New York by 14
• Game Flow: Washington rallied from a double-digit deficit before New York escaped in overtime after a controversial late possession.

Australians

🇦🇺 Georgia Amoore (Washington Mystics) – 21 mins │ 7 pts │ 7 ast │ 1–4 3PT
🇦🇺 Ally Wilson (Washington Mystics) – 24 mins │ 5 pts │ 4 reb │ 1–6 3PT
🇦🇺 Rebecca Allen (New York Liberty) – DNP (coach’s decision)

Key Performers

• Marine Johannes (New York) – 25 pts │ 6–13 3PT
• Breanna Stewart (New York) – 23 pts │ 9 reb
• Pauline Astier (New York) – 18 pts │ 7 ast
• Kiki Iriafen (Washington) – 20 pts │ 12 reb
• Sonia Citron (Washington) – 17 pts
• Shakira Austin (Washington) – 16 pts │ 10 reb

By the Numbers

New York Liberty: 48% FG │ 33% 3PT │ 23–28 FT │ 34 reb │ 19 ast
Washington Mystics: 43% FG │ 19% 3PT │ 42 reb │ 24 ast │ 19 OREB

Las Vegas Aces 105 def. Los Angeles Sparks 78‍

Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles
2026 WNBA Season

Australian forward Stephanie Talbot helped the Las Vegas Aces bounce back from their opening-night loss with a dominant 105–78 road win against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 11, 2026 (AEST).

Talbot started for Las Vegas and produced one of her most efficient outings of the season with eight points on 4-from-5 shooting, adding three assists and three steals in 18 minutes.

The Aces exploded in the second half, outscoring Los Angeles 63–37 after halftime behind A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chennedy Carter.

Carter led Las Vegas with 22 points in 20 minutes off the bench, while Young added 20 points and nine assists. Wilson finished with 19 points, four rebounds and two blocks.

Las Vegas shot a blistering 62% from the field and recorded 28 assists on 43 made baskets.

The Sparks were led by Kelsey Plum’s 27 points, while Nneka Ogwumike added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Los Angeles struggled offensively outside of Plum, shooting 37% from the field and committing 19 turnovers.

The Aces turned the game decisively in the third quarter with a 33–18 period before extending the lead to as many as 31 in the fourth.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 29–14, 13–27, 33–18, 30–19
• Largest Lead: Las Vegas by 31
• Game Flow: Las Vegas took complete control in the second half after the Sparks rallied before halftime.

Australians

🇦🇺 Stephanie Talbot (Las Vegas Aces) – 18 mins │ 8 pts │ 4–5 FG │ 2 reb │ 3 ast │ 3 stl

Key Performers

• Chennedy Carter (Las Vegas) – 22 pts
• Jackie Young (Las Vegas) – 20 pts │ 9 ast
• A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas) – 19 pts │ 2 blk
• Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles) – 27 pts │ 4–8 3PT
• Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles) – 19 pts │ 10 reb

By the Numbers

Las Vegas Aces: 62% FG │ 35% 3PT │ 28 ast │ 11 stl │ 10 blk
Los Angeles Sparks: 37% FG │ 29% 3PT │ 19 TO │ 32 reb │ 11 ast

Golden State Valkyries 95 def. Phoenix Mercury 79‍

Chase Center – San Francisco
2026 WNBA Season

Australian guard Miela Sowah and the Golden State Valkyries improved to 2–0 with a 95–79 win against the Phoenix Mercury on May 11, 2026 (AEST).

The Valkyries took control with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Phoenix 31–11 before surviving a third-quarter Mercury comeback attempt.

Australian forward Anneli Maley got in the game very late after featuring in the Mercury’s season opener, while fellow Australian Sami Whitcomb remained sidelined through injury.

Golden State placed six players in double figures, led by Janelle Salaun’s 21 points on 4-from-5 shooting from three-point range. Kayla Thornton and Gabby Williams added 19 points each, while Veronica Burton had 13 points and 12 assists.

Sowah did not play in the Valkyries’ home opener.

Phoenix rallied with a 31-point third quarter behind Alyssa Thomas and Jovana Nogic after trailing by 17 at halftime, but Golden State answered with a 29–17 final period.

Thomas finished with 19 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds for Phoenix, narrowly missing a triple-double, while Nogic scored 16 points on 4-from-5 shooting from three.

The Valkyries shot 39% from three-point range and recorded 25 assists on 33 made field goals.

Game Snapshot

• Quarter Scores: 17–20, 31–11, 18–31, 29–17
• Largest Lead: Golden State by 22
• Game Flow: Golden State dominated the second quarter before regaining control late after Phoenix rallied in the third.

Australians

🇦🇺 Miela Sowah (Golden State Valkyries) – DNP (coach’s decision)
🇦🇺 Anneli Maley (Phoenix Mercury) – DNP (coach’s decision)
🇦🇺 Sami Whitcomb (Phoenix Mercury) – DNP (left knee injury)

Key Performers

• Janelle Salaun (Golden State) – 21 pts │ 4–5 3PT
• Kayla Thornton (Golden State) – 19 pts
• Gabby Williams (Golden State) – 19 pts │ 4 stl
• Veronica Burton (Golden State) – 13 pts │ 12 ast
• Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix) – 19 pts │ 11 ast │ 9 reb
• Jovana Nogic (Phoenix) – 16 pts │ 4–5 3PT

By the Numbers

Golden State Valkyries: 49% FG │ 39% 3PT │ 25 ast │ 10 stl │ 30 reb
Phoenix Mercury: 48% FG │ 50% 3PT │ 20 ast │ 17 TO │ 24 reb