Prince scores 15, Storm beat Mercury 82-75
EVERETT, Wash. (AP) - Epiphanny Prince scored 15 points, Katie Lou Samuelson matched her career high with 14, and the Seattle Storm beat the Phoenix Mercury 82-75 on Sunday.
Jewell Loyd´s 3-pointer with 1:48 left gave the Storm (16-5) a six-point lead and Sue Bird´s running bank shot was the dagger, making it 80-72 at 43.9 seconds.
Seattle goes into the Olympic break with the best record in the WNBA and will return from it to open a five-game road trip, with a 47-day stretch until their next home game on August 27 when they visit the Chicago Sky. Breanna Stewart and Bird added 13 points each.
Kia Nurse scored 28 points and had a career high seven 3-pointers for the Mercury (9-10). Skylar Diggins-Smith added 17 points and Brittney Griner scored 16.
In a pregame ceremony Samuelson, Loyd, Breanna Stewart and Bird were recognized for making USA Basketball team. Bird will be seeking her record fifth Olympic gold medal.
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Seattle Storm's Sue Bird receives a basketball honoring her achievement of becoming the only player in league history to amass 3,000 career assists on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
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Seattle Storm's Katie Lou Samuelson, Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird receive flowers to congratulate them on making the 2021 Team USA Women's Basketball team on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner attempts a three-point shot during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
Phoenix Mercury's Kia Nurse passes the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
Phoenix Mercury's Kia Vaughn tries to pass around Seattle Storm's Breanna Stewart during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
Phoenix Mercury's Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner tries to pass around Seattle Storm's Seattle Storm's Mercedes Russell during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
Phoenix Mercury's Skylar Diggins-Smith takes the ball down the court during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Sunday, July 11, 2021 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald via AP)
