Skylar Diggins-Smith has breakout game to power Storm to rout of Mystics

So much for Skylar Diggins-Smith’s shooting slump.

The six-time WNBA All-Star began the season connecting on 1 of 15 three-pointers — her fewest threes during a five-game stretch during her 10-year career.

None of that mattered Saturday night.

Less than two minutes into the Storm’s dominant 101-69 victory against the Washington Mystics at Climate Pledge Arena, Diggins-Smith raised up over a defender and buried a long three into the bottom of the net.

In her best all-around game with Seattle, the 5-foot-9 point guard sank 6 of 9 shots, including a highlight reverse layup, while scoring 16 points, delivering a season-high nine assists and committing a season-low one turnover.

It was a 180-degree reversal for Diggins-Smith, who entered the game with just as many field goals (23) as turnovers. In her previous two outings, she converted 4 of 23 shots, including 0 for 6 on three-pointers.

“There is no sample size for what I’m trying to do,” said Diggins-Smith, who returned to the WNBA this season after a 21-month layoff following the birth of her second child last year. “You got one current player and one former. I could talk to Taj [McWilliams-Franklin] or I could talk to Dearica [Hamby]. That’s it. It’s rare air for what I’m trying to do. Navigating that, navigating this season with two little ones [and] trying to balance everything.

“I want everything to go so well here. This is my last stop in the W. I want it to go really well. With that, there’s going to be ebbs and flows, and you’re just going to have to go with it. … It’s not about me. It’s about the success of the team, but I know when I can get it going like that it’s very helpful and beneficial to the team.”

Diggins-Smith, who scored 10 points in the first quarter, got the Storm going early and canned a couple of free throws that put them up for good at 12-11.

On the next possession, Ezi Magbegor emphatically blocked Aaliyah Edward’s layup attempt and at the other end Ogwumike drained a midrange jumper.

Then Diggins-Smith canned her second three-pointer for a 17-11 lead and the Storm never looked back.

“Sky sets the tone,” Ogwumike said. “She has an incredible agenda of having to keep us organized and then also to stop the head of their snake. We try to keep her supported by matching her energy on the defensive end.”

Seattle led 25-15 after the first and was outscored 26-25 in the second quarter, which prompted a passionate halftime speech by coach Noelle Quinn.

“I want more and I’m greedy,” she said. “I want them to be sharp all the time. I thought they were just on cruise control. This team is learning and growing. We had a lot of great reps early on in some adverse situations.

“This is the first time I’ve seen 100 on the board in a long time being here. For me, it’s always to stay sharp and to stay tight and never be satisfied. I felt like they needed a little bit of a push at halftime.”

The Storm held the Mystics to 28 points and 27.3% shooting in the second half. Seattle’s dominant defense fueled an efficient offensive attack that converted 73.1% of its field goals, including 7 of 10 three-pointers after the break.

For the game, the Storm shot 61.7% from the field, the second highest in franchise history, and made 12 of 22 three-pointers. They also had 27 assists on 37 shots.

“We’re getting there,” said Quinn, who noted the Storm scored their most points at Climate Pledge Arena. “We’re not there yet. Today is a sign of what’s to come if we continue on this path.”

The Storm’s Big Four feasted on the depleted and road-weary Mystics (0-6), who were missing starters Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin. Washington was also at the end of a three-game road trip that began Tuesday in Los Angeles and included Thursday’s stop in Phoenix.

Ogwumike continued her red-hot start and scored a game-high 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Jewell Loyd added 18 points and four rebounds, which offset five turnovers.

And Magbegor, who also had five turnovers, chipped in 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks.

The Storm (3-3) also received 12 points from Sami Whitcomb off the bench.

Karlie Samuelson led the Mystics with 14 points and rookie Julie Vanloo had 12.

The Storm, who play seven of their next nine games away from home, embark on a two-game trek that starts Tuesday against the Chicago Sky and ends Thursday versus the Indiana Fever.

“Everybody plays basketball in this league [and] nobody is just going to lay down for you,” Diggins-Smith said. “Every single night, you have to be ready to play. It’s not a light switch we can turn on and off. I think we’re really adamant about wanting to go into this road trip with that same mentality and really have no letdowns defensively. That’s what travels.

“We can’t just say we cracked all the codes tonight. It was a good game. … We haven’t painted our masterpiece yet. This was a positive thing, but we’re not just going to rest on this one game.”

Note

• Mystics guard Jade Melbourne made her first trip to Seattle since the Storm traded her to Washington two weeks ago for a 2025 third-round pick. She finished with a career-high 13 points.