Ezi Magbegor, who earlier in the day signed a contract extension through the 2025 season, had 21 points and nine rebounds to lead the Seattle Storm to an 80-62 victory over the visiting Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday.
Seattle earned its fifth straight win while Phoenix lost for the fifth time in six games.
Magbegor, an All-Star center who is in her fifth WNBA season, all with the Storm, was set to become a free agent after this season.
The Storm took the lead for good after a 12-0 run gave them a 14-4 edge with 3:53 left in the first quarter. Magbegor had six points in the run.
The Storm built their lead to 38-18 after scoring 11 unanswered points, capped by two free throws by former Mercury guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (17 points, four assists).
The Storm were shooting 14 of 24 from the field at that point while the Mercury were 6 of 22.
Jewell Loyd contributed 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Victoria Vivians had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Storm (6-3).
Seattle’s lead grew to as many as 21 points before Phoenix scored the last eight points of the first half to cut the deficit to 46-33.
Phoenix star Diana Taurasi had two points at the break on 1-of-5 shooting from the field.
Taurasi finished with seven points, shooting 3 of 12, including 0 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Phoenix went scoreless for almost the first five minutes of the third quarter, allowing Seattle to take a 55-33 lead after a 9-0 stretch.
A 3-point shot by Kahleah Copper with 5:16 remaining in the quarter ended the 0-for-6 Mercury’s drought from the field.
Phoenix also had four turnovers at that point to start the second half.
The Mercury did not come closer than 14 points the rest of the game.
Copper led Phoenix with 19 points but shot 6 of 18 from the field. Natasha Cloud added 10 pointes, six rebounds and five assists.
Phoenix made 33.8 percent of its shots from the field, including 4 of 23 (17.4 percent) from 3-point range, and finished with 17 turnovers.
Seattle hit 40.6 percent from the floor, including 8 of 23 (34.8 percent) from deep, and gave the ball away 15 times.
–Field Level Media