2020 WNBA Finals Game 2 Recap: An offensive onslaught puts Storm up 2-0

The Seattle Storm put on an impressive offensive performance to take Game 2 of the 2020 WNBA Finals and beat the Las Vegas Aces 104-91.

The Storm are the seventh team since 2005 to go up 2-0 in the Finals with the prior six series ending in sweeps.

Trailing by six at the half, the Aces opened the third period with a 6-0 run to tie the game. Las Vegas proceeded to take the lead on two occasions in the quarter but never led by more than three points. A Kayla McBride basket cut the lead to just one but the Storm ended the quarter on a 10-4 run for the 75-68 lead.

Seattle held the Aces to 9-of-21 shooting in the fourth quarter and widened the lead to 18 points, the biggest of the game, before settling for a 13-point victory.

Seattle shot 57 percent from the floor, which is second to the 2014 Phoenix Mercury (58 percent) for the best shooting performance in WNBA Finals history. Additionally, Seattle recorded a WNBA Finals record 33 assists on 40 made baskets.

The Aces shot an effective 52 percent but made just 8-of-19 points from 3-point range to the Storm’s 12-of-26.

Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 22 points with teammates Alysha Clark and Natasha Howard recording a 21-point performance apiece. Clark and Howard combined for just 10 points in Game 1.

After scoring just two points in Game 1, Sue Bird scored 16 points in Game 2, dished 10 assists and shot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Jordin Canada scored 10 points off the bench, eight of which came in the fourth quarter.

For the Aces, A’ja Wilson finished with 20 points on of 8-of-17 shooting from the field but scored just four points in the final quarter — shooting 1-of-2 and going 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Angel McCoughtry’s streak of 20-point games ends at three; the veteran guard mustered 17 points.

Kayla McBride scored 14 points and was 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. McBride is 6-of-13 on 3-point shots in the series after shooting 2-of-14 in the semifinals. Danielle Robinson impressed again, this time recording eight points, 10 assists and six rebounds. Emma Cannon provided some welcome energy off the bench with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Cannon’s performance ties her best scoring game in 2017 as a member of the Phoenix Mercury (against the Dallas Wings).

The Aces were much better in the paint in Game 2, outscoring the Storm 46-44; in Game 1, Las Vegas scored 18 points in the paint to Seattle’s 48. Las Vegas was aggressive on the boards, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 21 second-chance points while Seattle scored 12 second-chance points. But Las Vegas’ 15 turnovers to Seattle’s 10 proved problematic.

Next up

Las Vegas got back to their game on the offensive end but do not appear to have the bodies defensively to get the stops needed to keep Seattle in check. With Las Vegas now facing elimination, look for Game 3 to be hotly-contested and full of energy.

Game 3 will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.