Surpassing not one, but two All-Time WNBA milestones in the same game is not the norm, but for Storm guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, it seems to be a hallmark of the point guard’s entire career. In front of a crowd of 11,283, which included UW legends Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas, along with EuroLeague’s all-time leading scorer Mike James, Diggins-Smith not only moved past Temeka Johnson to 15th on the WNBA’s all-time assist list, but also became the 34th player in WNBA history to score 4,500 points or more. Led by Nneka Ogwumike’s 24 points and 13 rebounds, two shy of her season high, along with Jewell Lloyd’s second-half eruption that saw her finish with 20 points, the Storm secured the season series against the Chicago Sky with a 84-71 victory at Climate Pledge Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Sky rookie Angel Reese also made history in impressive fashion by becoming the first player in league history with 13 consecutive games recording a double-double, tallying 17 points and 14 rebounds. Seattle, which had won eight straight at home before Friday night’s loss to the Sky , knew that getting back on track wasn’t just about trying to win the rebounding battle, but about putting up a fight. Much of Reese’s success over her 13 consecutive double-double games stemmed from her dominance on the offensive glass.
As the league leader in both offensive rebounds and total rebounds, limiting her opportunities to track shots off the rim was crucial after struggling to do so in.
