SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Connecticut Sun defeated the Seattle Storm 80-78 on Wednesday night at Key Arena before 9,024 fans, snapping a five-game losing streak. Connecticut jumped to a 29-23 lead in the first quarter and held off a late Seattle rally. The Sun outscored the Storm 17-18 in the second, 17-18 in the third and 17-19 in the fourth to preserve the two-point victory. Natisha Hiedeman led all scorers with 20 points and five assists for Seattle. Mackenzie Holmes added 18 points and six rebounds, and Jade Melbourne contributed 11 points. The Storm shot 25 of 63 from the field and made 22 of 25 free throws. Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 16 points for Connecticut, while Nell Angloma and Kennedy Burke each had 15 points. Raegan Beers posted 10 points and eight rebounds, and Aaliyah Edwards added 12 points. The Sun shot 32 of 72 from the floor and forced 14 Seattle turnovers. Connecticut improved to 1-5, while Seattle fell to 1-4. The teams meet again Friday in Seattle.

SEATTLE (Interstat) — Kennedy Burke scored the final three points of the game, converting a running layup and a free throw with 2.8 seconds left to give the Connecticut Sun an 80-78 victory over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night at Key Arena. Burke finished with 15 points, six rebounds and one assist, but her clutch basket capped a wild final minute in which the Storm had taken the lead. The win was the first of the season for the Sun, who improved to 1-5, while the Storm fell to 1-4. Connecticut came out firing, scoring 29 points in the first quarter to take a 29-23 lead. The Sun extended the margin to 46-41 at halftime thanks to a balanced attack. Forward Nell Angloma contributed 15 points and seven rebounds, forward Raegan Beers added 10 points and eight rebounds, and guard Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 16 points, including several big baskets in the second half. Seattle, however, refused to fade. The Storm outscored Connecticut 18-17 in the second quarter and 18-17 in the third to trim the deficit to 63-59 entering the fourth. Guard Natisha Hiedeman led the Storm with 20 points and five assists, while forward Mackenzie Holmes added 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Guard Jade Melbourne contributed 11 points, three assists and two rebounds, and guard Zia Cooke chipped in 10 points. The Storm continued to chip away in the fourth quarter. A three-point play by Lexie Brown with 9:32 left pulled Seattle within 66-62, but Burke answered with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to seven. Hiedeman then drilled a 29-foot 3-pointer with 3:17 remaining to make it 73-70. After a Sun timeout, the teams traded baskets. With 59 seconds left, Melbourne drove for a layup to give the Storm a 76-75 lead, their first advantage since the opening minutes. Connecticut called timeout, but Aaliyah Edwards missed a 3-pointer. Holmes grabbed the rebound and was fouled, making two free throws with 40.8 seconds left for a 78-75 Storm lead. The Sun responded quickly. Edwards drove for a layup with 31.9 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 78-77. Seattle called timeout, but Hiedeman missed a turnaround jumper. Edwards secured the rebound, and with 2.8 seconds left, Burke drove baseline, scored the layup and was fouled by Lexie Brown. Burke sank the free throw to give Connecticut an 80-78 lead. Seattle had one final chance. Hiedeman’s desperation 28-foot 3-pointer missed as time expired, and the Sun celebrated their first victory of the season. The game was a reversal of the teams’ previous meeting on May 10, when the Storm won 89-82 at Connecticut. This time, the Sun survived despite scoring only 17 points in each of the final three quarters after a 29-point first period. The Sun shot a respectable percentage from the floor, while the Storm struggled from beyond the arc. Holmes was a force inside for Seattle, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting and adding six rebounds. Hiedeman, who played 30 minutes, had 20 points and five assists but missed a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer. For Connecticut, Leger-Walker scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, and Edwards added 12 points and four rebounds. The announced crowd of 9,024 saw a tightly contested game that featured 10 lead changes and six ties. Connecticut’s defensive efforts in the final minute, particularly Edwards’ rebound and Burke’s clutch play, proved decisive. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Connecticut 95, Seattle 94. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Seattle with an 82.4 percent probability to win. Seattle had been installed as a pregame favorite by 3.5 points. The combined total of 158 points went under the over/under line of 165.5.

SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Connecticut Sun, winless in four games this season, visit the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night at Key Arena in a matchup of two WNBA teams seeking early-season momentum. The Sun (0-4) are coming off a 101-94 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, their fourth straight defeat to open the 2026 campaign. Seattle (1-3) fell 89-78 to the Indiana Fever on Sunday, its third loss in four outings. Connecticut’s struggles have been defined by narrow margins in its first two losses against Las Vegas and a 14-point defeat to Seattle on May 10. The Sun’s most lopsided setback came May 13, an 98-69 blowout at the hands of the Aces. Guard Saniya Rivers has been a bright spot for Connecticut. She posted 14 points, four rebounds and seven assists in the May 15 loss to Las Vegas, playing 29 minutes. Rivers had two points and three assists in 20 minutes against Seattle on May 10, and she scored eight points with four assists in the Aces’ blowout win. The Storm lean on guard Natisha Hiedeman, who scored 19 points with two assists and two rebounds in 31 minutes against Indiana on Sunday. Hiedeman had 11 points and three assists in Seattle’s 89-82 win over Connecticut earlier this month, and she added five points and five assists in a 73-86 loss to Toronto on May 13. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 95-94 victory for Connecticut, though the Sun have yet to win. Seattle’s lone victory came against the Sun, and the Storm have lost two straight since. Key players for Connecticut include forwards Aneesah Morrow and guard Hailey Van Lith. Morrow had 10 points and nine rebounds against Las Vegas on May 15, while Van Lith scored 17 points with four assists. Seattle’s supporting cast includes guard Flau’jae Johnson, who had 14 points and six rebounds against Indiana, and center Stefanie Dolson, who posted six points and five rebounds. The Sun next visit the Storm again May 22, then travel to Golden State, Portland and Portland before a home game May 30 against Los Angeles. Seattle hosts the Storm again May 22 before a four-game homestand against Washington.