Seattle Storm Snap 11-Game Losing Streak in 97-88 Win Over Chicago Sky

Seattle Storm
Written By Teren Kowatsch

By Teren Kowatsch

Seattle, WA - Before a game between the Seattle Storm and Chicago Sky on Monday at Climate Pledge Arena, Storm coach Sonia Raman discussed breaking through a glass ceiling that has stopped her squad from coming out on the right end of close games.


“I think we’re right there,” Raman said in a pregame news conference Monday. “And that’s certainly the focus of our team for these last several games that we have … is just doing that. Just kind of trying to put it together on both ends of the floor, get that 40-minute game under our belt.”

First quarter photos during the Seattle Storm’s 97-88 victory over the Chicago Sky on Monday, August 10th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Walter Williams for Circling Seattle Sports)

Monday was the day Seattle broke through as it downed Chicago 97-88, scored 22 points off turnovers and snapped an 11-game losing streak


“Even though we’re out the playoffs, we’re still getting better,” Storm forward Jordan Horston said in a postgame news conference. “We’re trying to ruin somebody’s season. Trying to make someone third-seed or whatever. We’re not done playing.”


Horston was one of four double-digit scorers for Seattle. She finished her night with 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.


The fourth-year forward scored seven of her 10 points in the first half in what was a dominant opening 20 minutes for the Storm.

Seattle Storm star forward Jordan Horston during the team’s 97-88 victory over the Chicago Sky on Monday, August 10th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Walter Williams for Circling Seattle Sports)

Seattle controlled the paint throughout the first half, limiting runs and transition opportunities from the Sky. The Storm took a six-point lead through the first 10 minutes and extended that lead to 47-33 going into halftime.


Even when Chicago was able to slow the pace down and set up a play, Seattle’s interior defense made looks in the paint or second-chance opportunities difficult to come by.


The Storm’s lone All-Star from this season, center Dominique Molanga, finished the game with a 26-point, 10-board double-double. She also added three blocks, two steals and an assist. All three of her blocks, eight of her rebounds and 10 of her points came in the first half.


“We’ve been talking about our defense for multiple games and how we want to come out aggressive, punch first,” Molanga said after the game. “And I think that’s the mentality we had, the mentality I had. I want to also improve my game and help my defense to get me going on offense. So sometimes, even when I don’t make shots, I want to be able to always have the same aggression and energy on defense. So that’s really something I focused on today.”

Seattle Storm star forward/center Dominique Malonga during the teams 97-88 victory over the Chicago Sky on Monday, August 10th, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Walter Williams for Circling Seattle Sports)

The Sky were able to make the game more competitive in the second half. Chicago matched its offensive output from the first half in the third quarter alone (33 points) and cut Seattle’s lead down to single digits.

In the fourth quarter, the Sky cut their deficit to as close as two when guard DiJonai Carrington stole the ball and converted a layup on the fast break with 2:53 left in the game.

Unlike previous closely contested losses, the Storm didn’t waver.

After Carrington’s layup, Natisha Hiedeman scored five points; Natisha Hiedeman had four, all from the free-throw line; Malonga had two; and guard Jade Melbourne, who fouled out with 23 seconds left after committing a foul on Carrington to prevent an easy bucket, also had two.

Hiedeman, who went down briefly with just over two minutes left in the game after getting hit in the head, finished her outing with 18 points, nine assists and two rebounds. Cooke finished with 16 points, two rebounds and an assist.

“I think they just came out with a lot of focus,” Raman said after the game. “The home crowd, the energy that we got from our fans was huge. A lot of togetherness. … Really proud of them. Wire-to-wire, I think they were really determined from start to finish.”

Quick notes from Storm PR

  • 11,655 was the announced attendance at Climate Pledge Arena for this WNBA regular-season game between the visiting Chicago Sky and the Seattle Storm.

  • Seattle scored 22 points off 15 forced turnovers, just the fifth game this season the team has recorded 22+ points off turnovers.

  • The Storm never trailed in the 97-88 win against the Sky, and their 17-point lead in the third quarter marked the team’s third biggest lead of the season.

  • Seattle tallied 25 free throws, which tied the team’s second-highest total so far this season, and the team’s 89.3% free-throw percentage marks the third-highest free-throw percentage in a game.

  • Dominique Malonga led Seattle with 26 points on 9-for-14 shooting (64.3%), including a career-high three made threes on four attempts (75.0%).

    • With 10 rebounds and three blocks, she tallied her 14th career double-double, which is tied for sixth all-time in Storm history.

    • Malonga also became the youngest player in WNBA history to 300 career defensive rebounds – surpassing Lauren Jackson, who was 22 – and the third youngest to 100 career free throws made.

  • Natisha Hiedeman scored 18 points, banking a career-high 12 free throws while shooting 100% from the line. She also led the Storm with nine assists.

  • Zia Cooke tallied 16 points, two assists and two steals in her 21 minutes of play off the bench.

  • Jordan Horston contributed 10 points, including 4-for-5 from the free-throw line, six rebounds and two steals.

Seattle will look to keep this newfound momentum rolling in its last game of the season against the Portland Fire, the expansion team that’s reignited the rivalry for the first time since the Oregon-based team folded from the league in 2002. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on Friday at Climate Pledge Arena and will be broadcast nationally on ION. The game against Portland on Friday is the second contest of a three-game homestand, with the Chicago Sky returning to Seattle this weekend.

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Teren Kowatsch
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