Storm Set Unwanted Franchise Record Despite Malonga’s Historic Night

The Seattle Storm endured another difficult chapter in a challenging season Monday night, falling 112-110 in overtime to the Dallas Wings and setting an unfortunate franchise record in the process. The defeat marked Seattle’s 11th consecutive loss, the longest losing streak in team history and a new low for one of the WNBA’s most successful organizations.

Seattle entered the contest having already matched its previous record of 10 straight losses, a mark established during the 2023 campaign. With an opportunity to halt the slide against Dallas, the Storm instead found themselves on the wrong side of another heartbreaking finish, extending a skid that has defined much of their season.

The loss was particularly painful because Seattle appeared poised to secure a much-needed victory late in regulation. The Storm held a six-point advantage with just over a minute remaining and looked ready to celebrate their first win in weeks before Dallas mounted a dramatic comeback.

Despite the disappointing result, the evening was not without bright spots. Rookie center Dominique Malonga delivered the finest performance of her young professional career, producing a historic outing that showcased why the franchise views her as a foundational piece for the future.

1. Historic Performance Overshadowed

Malonga’s breakout game was the biggest individual storyline of the night for Seattle. The 20-year-old center dominated offensively, scoring a career-high 37 points while also collecting 12 rebounds in an impressive display of skill, athleticism, and confidence. Her performance was significant not only because of the numbers she produced but also because of the milestone she reached. Malonga became the youngest player in WNBA history to record 200 career field goals, accomplishing the feat at just 20 years and 219 days old. Throughout the game, Malonga consistently provided answers whenever Dallas threatened to seize control. She attacked the basket effectively, finished through contact, and established herself as the focal point of Seattle’s offense during critical stretches. The rookie’s emergence has been one of the few encouraging developments for the Storm this season. While victories have been difficult to come by, performances like Monday’s suggest the organization may have a future star capable of leading the franchise through its next competitive era.

2. Dallas Rally Changes Everything

For much of the evening, Seattle appeared ready to put its losing streak behind it. The Storm played with urgency and energy, building a lead late in the fourth quarter and positioning themselves for what would have been a significant confidence-boosting victory. With 1:24 remaining in regulation, Seattle held a 94-88 advantage. At that point, the Storm seemed to have control, needing only a few defensive stops to close out the game and avoid another painful defeat. Dallas, however, had other plans. Wings star Paige Bueckers delivered a clutch sequence in the final moments, scoring the team’s last eight points of regulation. Her late surge included back-to-back three-pointers that erased Seattle’s lead and forced the game into overtime. The momentum generated by that comeback carried into the extra period. Although both teams exchanged baskets throughout overtime, Dallas ultimately made the decisive plays when they mattered most, turning what seemed destined to be a Storm victory into yet another frustrating defeat.

3. Growing Challenges For Seattle

The overtime session reflected the struggles Seattle has experienced throughout the season. Despite competing hard and receiving major contributions from multiple players, the Storm were unable to execute consistently during the most important possessions. Natisha Hiedeman contributed 21 points and 11 assists, providing strong leadership in the backcourt, while Awa Fam added 18 points. Together with Malonga, they helped Seattle remain competitive against one of the league’s stronger teams. Dallas received major performances of its own. Bueckers finished with 27 points and reached the 1,000-point mark for her WNBA career, becoming one of the fastest players in league history to achieve the milestone. Azzi Fudd added a career-high 26 points, including the go-ahead basket with just over 13 seconds remaining in overtime. The final moments summed up Seattle’s difficult season. After Fudd’s crucial layup gave Dallas the lead, the Wings came up with a key defensive stop and held on for the victory. Dallas improved to 11-6 on the season, while Seattle fell to 3-15 and remained winless against Western Conference opponents.