Stewart lifts Storm to Game 1 WNBA Finals win over Aces

Seattle Storm's lead down to two with a quarter left, Breanna Stewart took over.

big-game player scored first 11 points of fourth quarter and finished with 37 to help Storm beat Las Vegas Aces 93-80 on Friday night in Game 1 of WNBA Finals.

“I’m excited for big moment and big st. I expect to be here,” Stewart said. “Been here wher its college, WNBA or USA continuing to embrace that moment and take advant of it. This is why I play basketball. This is why I play to have big games to help my team in big moments.”

Jewell Loyd added 28 points and Sue Bird had a WNBA playoff-record 16 assists. Bird had 10 assists in first half to also break that playoff record. Game 2 of best-of-five series is Sunday.

Stewart added 15 rebounds and four blocks. She was a point short of WNBA Finals record set by Angel McCoughtry.

With Seattle holding a two-point lead heading into fourth quarter after a huge Las Vegas rally, Stewart took over.

She scored first 11 points of period to restore a double-digit advant and finished with 15 in quarter. 2018 MVP, who missed last season with a torn Achilles' tendon, hit three 3-pointers in game-changing burst.

“She got that look in her eyes that she’ll take over,” Seattle coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "Hit some 3s, got inside got to line. it was fabulous down stretch.

"We kind of lost our focus in third quarter. got into a halfcourt game. picked ir defense up. we didn’t respond in that third quarter and let m all way back in. proud of way we refocused and regrouped and solid in that fourth quarter and got a run going to stretch it out for win.

McCoughtry scored 20 points to lead Las Vegas, which was playing in WNBA Finals for first time since franchise moved to Nevada city three years ago. team was in finals in 2008 when it was located in San Antonio. A'ja Wilson, league's MVP, added 19 points.

Aces also lost first game of ir semifinal series to Connecticut before winning in five games.

“We just got to buckle down and lock in from start,' Wilson said. ”re's guarantee this series is exact same. w we see looks we were getting and got to kck those down."

Seattle is trying to become third team to win four titles, joining Houston and Minnesota. Storm were champions in 2004, 2010 and 2018.

Storm trailed 34-31 with 6:26 left in second quarter before going on a 26-6 run to close half. Stewart and Loyd combined for 17 points during that spurt as Seattle scored first 14 points in burst.

Seattle increased lead to 19 to start third quarter, but Aces rallied with a huge run of ir own to tie it at 67 just before end of quarter.

“We came out flat, worked so hard to come back into game it took to a lot out of us,” Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said.

HELPING HAND: Bird broke playoff assists record of 14 she held with Courtney Vandersloot of Chicago. Eight players had reached 11 assists in a finals game before Bird's record performance. She also set her own career-best for assists regular season and playoffs.

“I think Stewie and Jewell were pretty much on fire,” Bird said. “ way our team plays and offense was constructed dates back to when Jenny Boucek was our coach. We move it in a way to create opportunity as a point guard trying to find open player. Assists is a two-person thing and those two played amazing.”

BEST SELLER: Bird had top-selling jersey in WNBA this season, league anunced earlier Friday. It's first time in her career that Storm guard led list.

“It’s pretty cool, t going to lie. Dawned on me we have some new WNBA fans,” Bird said. “I've been here so long, you got that jersey 10-11-12 years ago. Maybe it’s a sign new people are interested in league and y are coping those jerseys and it’s pretty cool.”

Wilson was sixth on list and Stewart seventh. Storm were overall leader as far as popularity in merchandise. Aces were fourth on list

MISSING: Both teams will be without key reserves in finals. Dearica Hamby, WNBA Sixth Woman of Year, injured her knee in semifinals against Connecticut and is t expected to play in championship series. Seattle sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb left bubble to be with her wife as she gives birth to couple’s first child.

Im credits: AP

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