Wheeler's go-ahead jumper gives Seattle Storm 74-73 win over Valkyries to secure last WNBA playoff spot
Seattle Storm secure playoff spot with win over Valkyries
Erica Wheeler scored 17 points, including a go-ahead shot with 18.5 seconds left, and the Seattle Storm beat the Golden State Valkyries 74-73 to secure the final WNBA playoff spot.
SEATTLE - Erica Wheeler scored 17 points, including a go-ahead shot with 18.5 seconds left, and the Seattle Storm beat the Golden State Valkyries 74-73 on Tuesday night to secure the final WNBA playoff spot.
Seattle (23-21) clinched the 20th postseason appearance in franchise history.
After Wheeler's pull-up jumper from the free-throw line, Janelle Salaun missed a shot in the lane but she got another chance following an offensive rebound. Salaun missed a corner 3-pointer and Wheeler secured the loose ball.
Nneka Ogwumike finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, Brittney Sykes scored 14 and Skylar Diggins had 10 points and six assists for Seattle. Wheeler was 5 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Salaun had 22 points and five 3-pointers for Golden State (23-20), which became the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season on Thursday. Temi Fagbenle scored 14 points and Veronica Burton had 14 points and 11 assists. Kaila Charles added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Golden State went on a 13-0 run — started by three straight 3-pointers by Salaun and Monique Billings — to take a 60-50 lead late in the third quarter. The Valkyries were 4 of 4 from distance in the third before missing their first six of the fourth.
Seattle scored the opening 10 points of the fourth, capped by a 3-pointer by Wheeler, to take a 63-61 lead.
Storm prepare for high-stakes game against Golden State
It's the last game of the regular season for the Seattle Storm, who are right on the cusp of the playoffs and playing in their last chance to make it in.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Associated Press.
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