By Bel Garcia

Seattle, WA - After a tough battle with the Las Vegas Aces, the Seattle Storm hang their uniforms as their season comes to an end in a game four loss. Las Vegas came prepared; they understood the intensity that they had to play with to take the series from the Storm. After an overtime win in game three, the Aces looked just as commanding in the final minutes of game four, winning 97-92 to advance to the WNBA Finals. As the game clock counted down the final seconds, there was a somber feeling in the arena, a realization that this was Sue Bird’s final time playing in the WNBA. This is also the final time that we will see Briann January suit up for a basketball game. January deserves her flowers as well, she’s a champion, all-star, and was on the WNBA All Defensive Team seven times in her 12-year career.

“She’s the best point guard to ever play this game, and I understand why, it’s because she puts the work in. “– Storm head coach Noelle Quinn on Sue Bird’s career.

Breanna Stewart had an MVP level game, she played like any star facing elimination, but it wasn’t enough. Going into a game as serious as this one, Stewart and Jewell Loyd agreed that they would leave everything on the court, and they did. Breanna Stewart set records early on, by halftime she had racked up 26 points, the most ever scored in a playoff half. In the third quarter, she moved past Lauren Jackson into the second spot on the Storm’s all-time playoff scoring list. The player holding the number one spot on that list? Sue Bird. By the end of the game, Stewie had a total of 42 points marking only the fifth time in playoff history that a player had scored 40+ points in a game. Jewell Loyd, who had moments of struggle in the series, came to life tonight hitting tough off-balance shots and putting her body on the line on several defensive plays that ended with her on the floor. Loyd had 29 of the Storm’s 92 points and added four rebounds.

The competitive grit and resilience that the Aces have this season was unmatched, they were simply the better overall team. Referencing Becky Hammon and the trust that she has for her players, it continues to shine through as her team trusts in each other. My thoughts were that this was going to be another epic battle between Wilson and Stewart to determine the game and, possibly the series. It was someone else who played with complete ice in her veins in the fourth quarter, Chelsea Gray. She becomes the first player in WNBA playoff history to score 30 points along with ten assists. Gray embodied what Coach Quinn called her, being unconscious as just an aspect of her game. She goes into her shots like she practices them, working on different angles as she shoots because she knows that she may have to hit those in a live game. Wilson previously mentioned that this is a game of runs, and tonight Stewart emphasized that point by explaining how one error can quickly turn into a run for the opposing team.

“This is something that’s just in her DNA, she is just stone cold with the game on the line. You can just put the ball in her hands and let her work.” – Becky Hammon on Chelsea Gray’s performance down the stretch.

In an emotional post game conference where Hammon described eliminating the Seattle Storm from the playoffs as bittersweet, all players praised the career of Bird and January. A’ja Wilson and Gray reflected on the ability to play one of the best point guards in the game and how honored they felt to have had Bird as an opponent. Whereas Loyd and Stewart reflected on what it was like to have Sue Bird as a teammate and mentor and couldn’t help but get emotion thinking about that time now being over. Bird described the feeling of this being her last game as weird and surreal with emotions of sadness that it’s over, but happiness as well. She signed off by thanking all the media that have covered her and the Storm this season, all the new and old faces as she walked away from the press room table in her Storm jersey for the last time.

“Sue Bird is special, even just being in the locker room with Sue. I’ve been spoiled and blessed to come into the league and have her be my point guard, my leader,” Jewell Loyd said. “I don’t think we would be the players that we are without her.”

Having the opportunity to be one of the new faces in the press room has been a joy. From everyone at Circling Seattle Sports I say, “Thank you, Sue and Bri.”

https://www.whereweconverge.com/circling-seattle-sports