Seattle Storm Snap Losing Streak as Johnson and Malonga Lead 90-78 Win Over Short-Handed Toronto Tempo
Source: ABC News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
On a night when the Seattle Storm desperately needed a spark, they found it in their young backcourt and a determined team effort. Flau’jae Johnson poured in 20 points, Dominique Malonga added 18, and the Storm snapped a 14-game losing streak in a 90-78 victory over the short-handed Toronto Tempo on Wednesday at Climate Pledge Arena.
Seattle, now 8-31, had been mired in a brutal stretch that saw them lose 14 of their last 15 contests. But against a Toronto team missing its top three scorers, the Storm showed the kind of poise and execution that had been absent for weeks. Johnson attacked the rim relentlessly, finishing with efficiency, while Malonga provided a steady inside presence. Jade Melbourne orchestrated the offense with 16 points and seven assists, and both Awa Fam and Zia Cooke contributed 10 points off the bench.
The game was tight through three quarters. Toronto, despite its depleted roster, hung tough behind rookie Kiki Rice, who erupted for a season-high 24 points. Isabelle Harrison dominated the glass, pulling down 14 rebounds to go with 17 points, giving the Tempo a physical edge inside. The Tempo (11-27) led 57-53 with 3:11 left in the third quarter before Seattle flipped the script. The Storm closed the period on an 11-4 run, sparked by a Johnson three-point play and a Malonga putback, taking a 64-61 lead into the fourth.
Seattle carried that momentum into the final frame. They opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run, extending the lead to 73-63 with 7:15 remaining. Toronto never got closer than seven points the rest of the way. The Storm’s defense tightened, forcing contested shots and limiting second-chance opportunities. Melbourne’s court vision and Johnson’s scoring kept the Tempo at bay, and Seattle cruised to a much-needed victory.
For Toronto, the absence of Marina Mabrey (adductor), Brittney Sykes (foot), and Nyara Sabally (calf) was too much to overcome. The trio accounts for nearly 40 points per game, and without them, the Tempo struggled to generate consistent offense against a spirited Seattle defense. Rice’s breakout performance was a bright spot, but the lack of depth eventually caught up with Toronto.
The win provides a glimmer of hope for a Seattle team that has endured a difficult season. While the Storm remain near the bottom of the standings, the combination of Johnson, Malonga, and Melbourne offers a foundation to build around. For Toronto, the focus will be on getting their stars healthy and continuing to develop young talent like Rice as they push for a postseason spot.
Both teams face quick turnarounds. Toronto travels to Las Vegas to face the Aces on Friday night, while Seattle returns home to host the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.
Article commentary
Wednesday’s matchup between the Seattle Storm and the Toronto Tempo was a tale of two teams navigating vastly different challenges. Seattle, languishing at the bottom of the league with an 8-31 record, desperately needed a win to halt a demoralizing slide. Toronto, though sitting at 11-27 and still mathematically alive for a playoff push, came in severely short-handed, missing three of its most productive players. The result—a 90-78 Storm victory—was less about a seismic shift in the standings and more about the small victories that define a rebuilding season. From Seattle’s perspective, the performance of Flau’jae Johnson and Dominique Malonga offers a glimpse of a promising future. Johnson, a rookie guard, has shown flashes of scoring ability throughout the season, but her 20-point outing against a depleted Toronto defense was a reminder of her potential as a primary option. Malonga’s 18 points, combined with her defensive presence, give the Storm a frontcourt anchor. Jade Melbourne’s steady hand at point guard—16 points and seven assists—provided the kind of orchestration that has been inconsistent this year. For a team that has lost 14 of its last 15, finding a reliable core is essential, even if wins remain scarce. Toronto’s situation is more complicated. The absence of Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, and Nyara Sabally cannot be overstated. Those three players are not only the team’s leading scorers but also its primary playmakers and defenders. Without them, the Tempo relied on rookie Kiki Rice, who delivered a season-high 24 points, and a gritty effort from Isabelle Harrison. Rice’s performance is encouraging—she is a key piece of Toronto’s future—but the team’s depth is clearly tested when its stars are sidelined. The Tempo’s 11-27 record, while not disastrous, places them in a precarious position: too good to tank for a top draft pick, yet not quite good enough to contend for a playoff spot in a competitive league. The game itself was tightly contested until Seattle’s decisive runs in the third and fourth quarters. The Storm’s 11-4 burst to close the third period and the 9-2 spurt to open the fourth highlighted a team that finally executed when it mattered most. For a squad that has struggled to close games, this was a positive step. However, it’s important to note that Toronto’s depleted roster made the task significantly easier. Against a fully healthy team, Seattle’s margin for error would be much smaller. Looking ahead, both franchises have critical decisions to make. Seattle, with the worst record in the league, is firmly in the conversation for the top pick in the draft. The development of Johnson, Malonga, and Melbourne should be the priority, even if it means more losses down the stretch. Toronto, on the other hand, must balance the urgency of getting its stars healthy with the long-term goal of building around players like Rice. The Tempo’s schedule does not get easier—a trip to Las Vegas to face the Aces is a daunting task—but the experience gained by young players in these tough situations could pay dividends in future seasons. Ultimately, this game was a microcosm of the WNBA’s competitive landscape: a team at the bottom finding a rare moment of joy, and a team in the middle trying to stay afloat without its best weapons. The Storm’s victory was well-earned, but it’s a fleeting bright spot in an otherwise difficult season. For Toronto, the focus remains on getting healthy and building momentum for a stronger finish. Neither team is likely to make a deep playoff run, but the lessons learned in games like this one are the foundation of sustainable success.