Melbourne’s Storm dampens Amoore career night

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‍WNBA Box Scores: Seattle Storm 97 def. Washington Mystics 85‍

Seattle Storm (3-4, 2-2 Home)
Washington Mystics (2-3, 2-2 Away)

Georgia Amoore poured in a WNBA career-high, but fellow Australian Jade Melbourne and the Seattle Storm proved too explosive offensively in a 97-85 win over the Washington Mystics on today (AEDT).

Amoore scored a career-high 13 points for Washington in just her fifth WNBA game, adding six assists and two blocks despite battling foul trouble and turnovers throughout the night.

The game also marked Melbourne’s first matchup against her former club leaving Washington for Seattle in the offseason. Melbourne finished with three points, six assists, two steals and two rebounds in 25 minutes as Seattle’s starting point guard.

Fellow Australians Alex Wilson (DNP-Coach's Decision) and Ezi Magbegor (injured) didn't play.

Seattle’s perimeter shooting broke the game open. The Storm knocked down 13-from-28 from three-point range and poured in 27 points during the third quarter to build a 22-point lead entering the fourth.

Natisha Hiedeman led Seattle with 24 points on 4-from-6 shooting from deep, while Flau’jae Johnson added 17 points and Stefanie Dolson scored 16 without missing a field goal or free throw attempt.

The Mystics stayed within reach early behind strong interior work from Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin, but Seattle’s shot-making and transition pace gradually separated the game.

Amoore continued to show increasing comfort running Washington’s offence, getting to the foul line eight times and converting all of them. Sonia Citron added 16 points for the Mystics, while Iriafen finished with 13 points and Austin contributed 12.

Seattle shot 46 percent from three-point range and 94 percent at the free-throw line, while Washington struggled from deep, hitting just 4-from-20 from beyond the arc.

By the Numbers

• Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle) – 24 points, five assists, 4-from-6 3PT
• Flau’jae Johnson (Seattle) – 17 points, six rebounds
• Stefanie Dolson (Seattle) – 16 points, 2-from-2 3PT
• Georgia Amoore (Washington) – 13 points, six assists, two blocks
• Sonia Citron (Washington) – 16 points
• Jade Melbourne (Seattle) – three points, six assists, two steals
• Ezi Magbegor (Seattle) – DNP (right foot)
• Alex Wilson (Washington) – DNP (coach’s decision)

WNBA Box Score: Dallas Wings 91 def. New York Liberty 76‍

Dallas Wings (4-3)
New York Liberty (3-3)

Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd torched New York in the second half as Australian Opal Alanna Smith and the Dallas Wings rolled past fellow Australians Anneli Maley and Rebecca Allen’s New York Liberty 91-76 in Brooklyn on Sunday.

Smith started for Dallas in the win, while Maley came off the bench for New York and Allen did not play due to coach’s decision.

The game also marked the season debut of Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu after she missed New York’s opening five games with a preseason foot injury, but Dallas’ backcourt overwhelmed the Liberty after halftime.

New York led 44-43 at the break before Fudd detonated in the third quarter. The No. 1 draft pick missed her first three-point attempt of the half, then rattled off five straight makes from deep – including a banked three that pushed Dallas’ lead to 66-53 with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter.

The Wings drilled seven three-pointers in the third period overall and outscored the Liberty 28-17 to take complete control of the game.

Bueckers finished with 24 points, six rebounds and two assists on 7-from-13 shooting, while Fudd added a season-high 24 points on 9-from-15 from the field and 6-from-12 from three-point range. Arike Ogunbowale added 19 points and five assists as Dallas improved to 4-3.

Smith finished scoreless in 15 minutes but contributed defensively with two rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Maley logged 11 minutes off the bench for New York, finishing with three rebounds and a steal while bringing defensive energy during her stint.

Ionescu started aggressively in her return, scoring four quick points and connecting with former Oregon teammate Satou Sabally early, but Dallas gradually took away New York’s offensive rhythm. Ionescu finished with 11 points, seven assists and five rebounds, although her final points came late in the second quarter.

Sabally led the Liberty with 20 points against her former team, while Breanna Stewart had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Jonquel Jones added 14 points and seven boards.

Dallas shot 46 percent from the field and 15-from-35 from beyond the arc, while New York managed just 8-from-26 from three and could not seriously threaten in the fourth quarter as Bueckers and Ogunbowale answered every Liberty push.

By the Numbers

• Paige Bueckers (Dallas) – 24 points, six rebounds, two assists
• Azzi Fudd (Dallas) – 24 points, 6-from-12 3PT
• Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas) – 19 points, five assists
• Satou Sabally (New York) – 20 points
• Sabrina Ionescu (New York) – 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds
• Anneli Maley (New York) – three rebounds, one steal in 11 minutes
• Alanna Smith (Dallas) – two rebounds, three assists, one steal

WNBA Box Scores: Atlanta Dream 82 def. Phoenix Mercury 80

Atlanta Dream (4-1, 2-1 Home)
Phoenix Mercury (2-5, 1-2 Away)

Angel Reese and Jordin Canada dragged the Atlanta Dream home late as Australian guard and reigning WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase and Atlanta escaped the injury-hit Phoenix Mercury 82-80 on Sunday.

Borlase played 16 minutes off the bench for Atlanta, finishing with five points, four rebounds and two assists while knocking down a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Fellow Australian Sami Whitcomb did not play for Phoenix because of a left knee injury.

Atlanta looked headed for defeat before exploding on a 9-0 run across 85 seconds late in the fourth quarter to erase a seven-point deficit and completely flip the game.

Canada gave the Dream the lead with a free throw after attacking the rim, before Rhyne Howard buried a huge three-pointer with 24 seconds left to push Atlanta ahead by four.

Phoenix still had chances late. Kahleah Copper answered with a three-pointer on the next possession, then after Angel Reese split a pair at the foul line, the Mercury regained possession down two with seconds remaining.

Copper was fouled attempting another three with 3.5 seconds left but made only two of the three free throws, leaving Phoenix short in the final seconds.

Howard led Atlanta with 21 points and six three-pointers, while Reese collected her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Canada added 11 points and 14 assists for her first double-double of the year, alongside seven rebounds and three steals.

Borlase provided solid bench minutes during Atlanta’s comeback push and finished plus-seven in her 16 minutes on the floor.

For Phoenix, Alyssa Thomas and Copper both scored 20 points. Thomas added 12 rebounds and seven assists, while Kyara Linskens chipped in 10 points off the bench.

The Mercury again played without Whitcomb, who remains sidelined with the knee issue, and struggled badly from long range, shooting just 4-from-21 from three-point range despite hitting 95 percent of their free throws.

Atlanta improved to 4-1 with the win, while Phoenix dropped to 2-5.

By the Numbers

• Rhyne Howard (Atlanta) – 21 points, 6-from-12 3PT
• Angel Reese (Atlanta) – 17 points, 10 rebounds
• Jordin Canada (Atlanta) – 11 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds
• Isobel Borlase (Atlanta) – five points, four rebounds, two assists
• Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix) – 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists
• Kahleah Copper (Phoenix) – 20 points
• Kyara Linskens (Phoenix) – 10 points off the bench

Atlanta next faces the Chicago Sky, while Phoenix hosts the Seattle Storm.