Minnesota Lynx defeated Seattle Storm 86-76 at Climate Pledge Arena on Wednesday, July 22, with Napheesa Collier proving the decisive figure in the final result. Collier’s 24 points and 10 rebounds set the tone as Minnesota took control after halftime and secured another impressive road victory in the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Seattle started brightly and edged the opening quarter 22-18, giving the home side early belief. Dominique Malonga was central to that strong opening spell, establishing herself inside and finishing the night with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. The Storm also moved the ball well enough early on to suggest this would be a tightly contested fixture.
But Minnesota responded in the second quarter with greater rhythm in possession and sharper perimeter execution. The Lynx put up 26 points in the period to trim Seattle’s advantage and shift momentum before the break. Their ball movement was a major factor throughout, with Olivia Miles delivering six assists and helping Minnesota generate the cleaner looks from distance.
The pivotal stretch arrived in the third quarter. Minnesota won the period 24-15, tightening up defensively while continuing to punish Seattle from beyond the arc. That sequence turned a close contest into a fixture played on the Lynx’s terms, with the visitors creating separation through their superior three-point shooting and composure at the free-throw line.
Seattle’s problem was efficiency from the perimeter. The Storm made just 5 of 32 from three-point range, a 15.6 percent return that left too much pressure on their interior production. Minnesota, by contrast, knocked down 9 of 23 from deep at 39.1 percent, and that difference stretched the floor in key moments. Even though Seattle finished with more rebounds, 41-36, they could not quite convert enough second-chance opportunities to swing the result back in their favour.
In the closing quarter, the Lynx stayed organised and managed the fixture with assurance. They added 18 points in the fourth, matched Seattle’s late efforts calmly, and closed out a win that reflected their league-leading consistency. Minnesota’s 23 assists also underlined how well the visitors shared the load, while their 88.2 percent shooting at the foul line removed any real path back for the Storm.
Key performers
Collier was the standout once again, finishing with 24 points and 10 rebounds in a commanding all-around display. Miles’ six assists gave Minnesota structure, while the Lynx’s collective shooting from deep made the difference. For Seattle, Malonga offered the clearest bright spot with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, and Awa Fam added a team-high 10 rebounds. Flau’jae Johnson led the Storm in assists with four, but Seattle never found enough attacking balance from the outside.
NerdSports Stat: Minnesota outscored Seattle by 19 points from three-point range alone, hitting nine threes to the Storm’s five despite taking nine fewer attempts.
This result strengthens Minnesota’s excellent overall mark to 22-6 and underlines why they remain one of the league’s pace-setters, especially away from home where they improved to 12-2. Seattle, now 6-23, showed encouraging interior production but will need a sharper attacking return in their next fixture if they are to turn competitive spells into victories.
Frequently Asked Questions
No goal scorers were recorded in the provided match data. Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 24 points, while Dominique Malonga had 21 for Seattle.
Seattle Storm 76 – 86 Minnesota Lynx.
Minnesota improved to 22-6 and strengthened their position among the league’s front-runners, while Seattle dropped to 6-23 and remains under pressure near the bottom of the standings.
Napheesa Collier was the standout performer with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
