> ## 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 Fumble Double-Digit Lead in Blowout Loss to Lynx - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/storm-fumble-double-digit-lead-blowout-loss-to-lynx/ - Published: 2026-06-06T20:02:44.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:14:31.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Game Day, Analysis, Storm, Natisha Hiedeman, Dominique Malonga, Flau'jae Johnson, Jade Melbourne, Sonia Raman \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2328"\] ![ Seattle Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) tries to maneuver past Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) in the Storm’s 88-68 loss to the Lynx on Saturday, June 6, at the Target Center. Credit: Courtesy of Seattle Storm ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/20260606_at-2bmin_jn-27-format-original.jpg) Seattle Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) tries to maneuver past Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) in the Storm’s 88-68 loss to the Lynx on Saturday, June 6, at the Target Center. Credit: Courtesy of Seattle Storm \[/caption\] An efficient start quickly faded to memory for the Seattle Storm as they were held to 25 second-half points in an 88-68 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, June 6, at the Target Center. Minnesota (9-2) was led by a combined 46 points from Natasha Howard and Olivia Miles, shaking off a slow start to dominate the Storm like they have the entire WNBA this season. Seattle (3-9) crumbled in the second half to drop its fifth straight game. Natisha Hiedeman and Jade Melbourne each scored 14 points to lead the Storm. Flau’jae Johnson added 10 points and a team-high six rebounds. Here’s what we learned from a difficult Storm loss against one of the league’s top teams. ### **Uncharacteristically fast start** Contrary to their general trend this season, the Storm started hot on offense. Four of the Storm’s first five field goals were from 3-point range, and they didn’t miss until the fifth attempt. Seattle built up a substantial 12-point lead late in the opening quarter. In addition to the offensive efficiency, the Storm forced multiple Lynx mistakes on the other end of the court that allowed Seattle to control the pace. The Storm concluded the period shooting 9 of 17 overall and 7 of 11 from behind the 3-point arc. Two games ago, the Storm had 25 points with six minutes remaining in the third quarter against the Dallas Wings. They scored 24 points in just the first 10 minutes against Minnesota. But the dominance didn’t last long. The shooting efficiency cooled off, and the Lynx started moving the ball much more efficiently in the second quarter — jump-starting an 11-3 run that tied the game 27-27. Minnesota took its first lead of the game, 36-35, with just under four minutes left in the first half. The Lynx found their own hot streak, led by Miles and Howard. That duo each scored 12 points in the first half, making up more than half of the Lynx’s offensive output. As good as Hiedeman has been for the Storm, Miles was making Seattle pay for not being able to select her one pick later in the draft. The Lynx outscored the Storm by 10 in the second quarter and took a two-point lead into halftime. Even after surrendering a double-digit lead, Seattle was still in the game. ### **Storm spiral, Lynx kick into gear** Minnesota kept disrupting the Storm in the third quarter. Nothing came easy inside (Howard and Coffey combined for four blocks) and Seattle had to rely on its 3-point shooting. After previously looking so confident to begin the game, the Storm’s young core looked frazzled by the Lynx in the second half. The bad passes began to stack up, and Minnesota began the third quarter with an 18-7 run. Two quarters after leading by 12, the Storm suddenly trailed by 15\. The Lynx piled up 25 points off of 23 Storm turnovers, and that was the difference when coupled with a significant drop-off in shooting efficiency for Seattle. The Storm were 9 of 31 from the field across the second and third quarters. They made that same amount of shots in the first quarter alone on just 17 attempts. Miles, who is averaging 6.4 assists per game this season, had zero in the first half. She had five in the third quarter, helping fuel an explosive period for Minnesota. Within the first minute of the fourth quarter, the Lynx had taken a 20-point lead. The snowball continued growing, and the Storm had no answers to what the Lynx were doing on both ends of the court. There was no hope for a disjointed Storm team to get back in the game, and head coach Sonia Raman began putting deep bench players in late. ### **Hiedeman’s return to Minnesota** It wasn’t enough to get a win, but Hiedeman played well in her first game back in Minnesota since joining the Storm in free agency this offseason. In addition to her scoring, Hiedeman totaled four rebounds, five assists and three steals. The Lynx played a tribute video for Hiedeman before the game, as she was able to mingle with her former teammates. Hiedeman only played two seasons with the Lynx, but she had a big impact both on and off the court and was a fan-favorite alongside current Minnesota guard Courtney Williams. ### **Dominique Malonga limited in return** Even though Malonga made her first appearance since May 13, she played just 14 minutes and didn’t start. Malonga missed eight games with a concussion, which had to have been fairly severe considering the extended absence. She is either still somewhat limited, or Raman wanted to ease her back into playing time. The 2025 No. 2 overall pick totaled seven points (3 of 8 FG), two rebounds and two steals in her limited action. Seattle needs her back to full strength if they want to compete against teams like the Lynx. ### **Storm must find consistency** When playing as they did in the first quarter — confident, efficient and defensively sound — the Storm are proving they could be a competitive team in 2026\. The problem is that they can never do it for more than one or two consecutive quarters. Against bad teams, it can still be enough. But teams like the Lynx will adjust, find the weaknesses and obliterate the Storm with their tactics and sheer talent. It also falls on Raman to make better adjustments and put her team in positions to succeed. One of Noelle Quinn’s weaknesses as the Storm’s former head coach was in-game adjustments. Raman hasn’t yet proved she is better in that area. ### **Up next** It doesn’t get any easier for the Storm, who will stay on the road for a game against the Las Vegas Aces (6-3) at 7 p.m. PST on Monday, June 8.