Seattle Storm W vs Toronto Tempo W

Toronto had no answer for Seattle's depth in the fourth quarter. The Tempo's bench managed only 11 points combined (Teonni Key 2, Kia Nurse 4, Kiana Williams 2, Ornella Bankole 3), while Seattle's reserves poured in 30 points. That 19-point swing off the bench was the decisive margin.

Seattle also owned the glass when it mattered. After Isabelle Harrison pulled down 14 rebounds for Toronto, the Storm's collective rebounding effort — Malonga (7), Samuelson (6), Jade Melbourne (6), Stefanie Dolson (5) — helped limit second-chance opportunities.

Flau'jae Johnson (SEA) — 20 PTS, 3 REB, 9-15 FG. The rookie guard was Seattle's most efficient scorer, attacking the rim and converting at a 60% clip.

Kiki Rice (TOR) — 24 PTS, 5 AST, 3 REB, 6-12 FG, 11-11 FT. Rice kept Toronto in the game with perfect free-throw shooting and steady playmaking, finishing as the game's leading scorer.

Dominique Malonga (SEA) — 18 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK. The Storm centre was a two-way force, affecting shots on defence while providing consistent interior scoring.

Jade Melbourne (SEA) — 16 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST, 5-10 FG. The point guard controlled the tempo and posted a team-high seven assists, outplaying her opposite number.

Player of the Match: Flau'jae Johnson — her efficient scoring and timely buckets in the fourth quarter set the tone for Seattle's decisive run.

The quarter-by-quarter scoring (TOR: 19-23-19-17, SEA: 23-20-21-26) reveals a game that was a one-possession contest for 36 minutes before Seattle's fourth-quarter surge. Toronto shot just 3-of-16 from three-point range (18.8%) compared to Seattle's respectable 7-of-29 (24.1%). The Tempo's reliance on free throws — Rice made all 11 of her attempts — kept them in the game, but their bench production deficit proved insurmountable. Seattle's 30 bench points to Toronto's 11 was the single biggest statistical disparity.

For Seattle (7-31), this is only their seventh win of a difficult season and their first in three attempts against the expansion Tempo. The Storm sit 8th in the Western Conference with a difficult run-in ahead.

Toronto (11-26) remain 6th in the Eastern Conference but have now lost three of their last four. After snapping a 12-game losing streak with a win over Portland, the Tempo have regressed, losing by 10 to Las Vegas before this 12-point defeat in Seattle.

Seattle's next fixture is away to the Dallas Wings. Toronto return home to face the Atlanta Dream.

This was Seattle's most complete performance of the season, built on bench production and fourth-quarter defence. For Toronto, the formula that earned them wins over the Storm earlier this season — hot shooting from Mabrey and Sykes — wasn't available, and the supporting cast couldn't compensate. Seattle finally solved the Tempo puzzle, but with only seven wins all year, it feels like a consolation rather than a breakthrough.