> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Instant Takeaways: Storm Extremely Efficient in Decisive Win vs. Dream - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/storm-extremely-efficient-in-decisive-win-vs-dream/ - Published: 2026-06-28T04:05:40.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:14:21.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Game Day, Analysis, Storm, Awa Fam, Flau'jae Johnson, Natisha Hiedeman, Sonia Raman, Dominique Malonga, Jade Melbourne \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2180"\] ![ Seattle Storm center Awa Fam (11) reacts in the first quarter at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dizon-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/seattle-storm-center-awa-fam--2811-29-reacts-in-the-first-quarter-at-climate-pledge-arena--mandatory-credit-3a-richard-dizon-imagn-images-format-original.png) Seattle Storm center Awa Fam (11) reacts in the first quarter at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dizon-Imagn Images \[/caption\] All five starters scored in double figures for the second straight game with outstanding efficiency, and the result was never in doubt for the Seattle Storm in a 105-90 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, June 27, at Climate Pledge Arena. The Storm (5-15) have now won two straight — both against teams with winning records — after previously losing 11 in a row. Previous issues that plagued the Storm, especially on offense, are melting away as their young core begins to look like a completely different team. Flau’jae Johnson, coming off a career game, was sensational once again with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Awa Fam posted a career-high 21 points, while Dominique Malonga tallied another all-around performance with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks. The Dream (12-7) were led by 27 points and three assists from Rhyne Howard in a losing effort. Here’s what we learned from another impressive Storm victory that kept them moving in the right direction. ### **Immediate dominance, followed by consistency** The Storm and Dream looked like their records were flipped right out of the gate. Fam began the game on fire, knocking down three triples in Seattle’s first four buckets. That helped the Storm jump out to a 12-0 lead as the Dream missed their first eight shots. It wasn’t just bad offense by Atlanta, either. The Storm were shutting down everything the Dream wanted inside, and that was expected to be a focal point for Seattle when Atlanta leads the WNBA with an average of 43.0 points per game in the paint. But the Dream responded. They tightened up on defense and sparked an 8-0 run of their own to cut the Storm’s lead in half. After that, neither team was very efficient from the field. The Storm started hot but hit just 3 of their last 11 field goal attempts to conclude the first quarter. Atlanta was 3 for 20 in the period overall. Both teams were scrappy and physical, leading to misses, but each also just missed some easy layups. The Storm especially could have pushed their opening period lead much higher had they not missed multiple should-be buckets. Howard propped up the Dream in the second quarter. She scored 11 points in the period, sinking a response to what felt like every Storm bucket. At one point in the second quarter, Howard was 6 of 8 from the field while the rest of the Atlanta roster was 3 of 21. Fam continued to lead the Storm, however, and Seattle led 46-39 at halftime. ### **Cruising to the finish line** Defense went out the window in the third quarter. It was rapid-fire offense for both teams, and the scoreboard could barely keep up. All five Storm starters eclipsed double figures as the third period wound down, and Seattle picked up its largest lead of the game at the time (13) late in the quarter via 32 total points in the frame. One of the biggest growth points for the Storm in the last few games has been their ability to string together possessions regardless of how their opponent is shooting the basketball. Early in the season, the Storm allowed mistakes to spiral into blown leads and blowout defeats. Now, even with an extremely young team, they’re rolling with the punches and looking much more mature in their game management capabilities. But even as the Storm were firing on all cylinders, the Dream found their extra gear. With the Storm leading by 16 early in the fourth quarter, Atlanta mounted an 8-0 run that rapidly cut the Storm’s lead in half. That aforementioned resiliency was evident for the Storm, however, as they kept the Dream at arm’s length. The true test was in the final five minutes, with Seattle leading by nine and Malonga having to check out due to picking up her fifth foul. When Malonga returned, the Storm were up 10 points. The lead ballooned to 17 with just over two minutes remaining. That’s the kind of winning basketball that was absent for much of the season. Natisha Hiedeman was the Storm’s third-leading scorer with 20 points, two rebounds and six assists. Jade Melbourne added 10 points, four rebounds and five assists. ### **Insane efficiency** The Storm converted 38 of 63 field goal attempts (60%), including 14 of 23 shots from beyond 3-point range (61%). This was the third consecutive game that Seattle has shot above 50% overall, and it’s a testament to how much more fluid they’ve become offensively. It’s hard to lose when the Storm are posting this kind of efficiency. Of course, it won’t be a trend they can continue the rest of the season, but they’re laying the foundation to be able to beat some of the best teams in the league. Seattle’s previous franchise best for points scored in a three-game span was 307\. They’ve now scored 315 in the last three games against the Wings, Liberty and Dream. ### **Fam, Johnson emerging** It was a slow burn, but the Storm are now getting the absolute most out of their top two rookies. Coupled with Malonga, Melbourne and Hiedeman, this is the best starting lineup that head coach Sonia Raman has assembled so far this season. Johnson has averaged just 35.5% from the field this season, but she’s converted 20 of 35 shots (57.1%) over the last two games. She’s 6 of 13 from 3-point range in that same span. Her rebound totals are nothing to scoff at either, and that’s a big reason the Storm aren’t getting dominated in that area every game recently. Fam is also getting more efficient as the season goes on. Over the last three games, the 2026 No. 3 overall pick has made 20 of 26 attempts (76.9%) overall and 11 of 14 from 3-point range (78.8%). When you add those contributions to Malonga, who has made 30 of 49 attempts (61.2%) over the last three games, it’s easy to see how the Storm are going from one of the worst offensive teams in the league to one of the best. Johnson and Fam were always supposed to become focal points of the lineup. But it’s happening even sooner than expected, and both are playing at an All-Star level right now as rookies. ### **Up Next** The Storm are going back on the road after a three-game home stand, and they will face the Phoenix Mercury (7-13) at 7 p.m. PST on Thursday, July 2, at the Mortgage Matchup Center.