Natisha Hiedeman matched her career high with 24 points as the Seattle Storm beat the Washington Mystics 97-85 on Sunday, with Awa Fam making her WNBA debut as the No. 3 overall pick.
SEATTLE — Seattle’s Awa Fam didn’t need long to announce herself. In her WNBA debut, the No. 3 overall draft pick scored 10 points in 20 minutes, finishing her first outing with a layup off a pick-and-roll with Flau’jae Johnson late in the second quarter.
The Storm turned that personal arrival into a full-team statement, beating the Washington Mystics 97-85. The game played like a pressure cooker at the free-throw line, with 75 total free throws, including 52 in the second half.
Natisha Hiedeman tied her career high with 24 points for Seattle. Johnson, a rookie, followed with a season-best 17 points. She went 7 of 12 from the field and added seven rebounds and five assists.
The Storm made it count from deep and at the stripe. Seattle hit 13 3-pointers on 28 attempts and converted 32 of 34 free throws for 94 per cent shooting. Washington. though. couldn’t keep pace from the foul line or beyond the arc. making 35 of 41 free throws (85 per cent) and shooting just 20 per cent (4 of 20) from beyond the arc.
Stefanie Dolson helped anchor the scoring for Seattle with 16 points and perfect shooting: she was 3 of 3 from the field, 2 of 2 from 3-point range, and 8 of 8 from the line. Zia Cooke added 10 points.
For Seattle, the win came with an absence that has been felt for a few days. Dominique Malonga missed her fourth consecutive game due to the concussion protocol. Still, the Storm kept their rhythm, with the Mystics trailing by double digits throughout the second half.
The Mystics got 16 points from Sonia Citron. Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore and Angela Dugalic added 13 points apiece, while Shakira Austin finished with 12.
Early momentum in the second quarter helped decide the tone. Hiedeman hit a 3-pointer that gave Seattle the lead for good. and her long floater with 1.8 seconds left in the period made it 49-37. Johnson’s late-second-quarter connection with Fam came right after that stretch. extending the story of a debut that never felt delayed.
For Awa Fam, the turning point was also personal: she joined the Storm on Friday after helping Valencia win the Spanish League title. She is 6-foot-4 and turns 20 on June 17.
Seattle also entered the day after snapping a recent rough patch. The Storm beat Connecticut 77-59 on Friday to end a three-game skid.
The teams will meet again in Seattle on Wednesday.
Seattle Storm Washington Mystics Awa Fam Natisha Hiedeman Flau’jae Johnson Stefanie Dolson WNBA debut free throws June 17