The Storm put together a good overall team performance, but their effort was not enough to down the Chicago Sky, who took the 82-80 win on Sunday at Climate Pledge Arena.

On Friday, the Storm started their comeback too late and came up just short in an 84-82 loss to the Portland Fire. On Sunday, the Storm began chipping away at the lead earlier, but could not keep up the scoring. There’s been a trend of the Storm starting sluggishly, and then being forced to dig themselves out of holes.

“It’s been couple of games where we start slower (in the) first half, and then we wake up in the second half, and that’s the conversation in the locker room where we have to find ways to start better, because that’s what puts us in the situation at the end of the games,” Storm center Dominique Malonga said.

They went on an 11-0 run in the middle of the third quarter to chip away at the Sky’s lead. Chicago had led by as many as 21 points, but the Storm entered the fourth quarter down by just five. They kept the game tight throughout the fourth, but once again failed to close out and moved to 2-16 in clutch situations.

“We don’t want to be a team that just gives up, and I don’t think we ever have been this season,” forward Ezi Magbegor said. “And so, whether it’s a five- to 21-point deficit, we’re always going to stay locked in games. But I think it just comes down to not wanting to be in a 21-point deficit.”

Kamilla Cardoso, the Sky’s 6-foot-7 center, led all scorers with 22 points. Chicago’s Natasha Cloud scored 20.

The highlight of Seattle’s game was the defense, and the Storm have said all season that they see defense as their identity. The team blocked 13 shots Sunday afternoon — a franchise record. When these teams played last on Aug. 10, the Storm came out strong and outscored Chicago in every quarter but the third. Instead on Sunday, they faltered in the first half and the defense was the stronger point.

“I think (blocked shots) really is the foundation of our offense, as well,” Magbegor said. “Just being able to get big stops and transfer that into offense.”

The Storm had five players in double figures. Malonga led with 19 points and 13 rebounds, her 11th double-double of the season. Magbegor recorded a season-high 17 points and five blocked shots. Awa Fam, Jade Melbourne and Zia Cooke followed with 14, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

With the Storm eliminated from playoff contention and sitting at the bottom of the standings, all eyes are on potential growth. Sunday’s game featured the rare combination of the Storm’s literal big three of Fam, Malonga and Magbegor — all listed as being at least 6-foot-4. Between Fam’s duties to her Spanish national team at the beginning of the season and Magbegor’s injuries, the trio has not gotten much time together. They looked dominant on Sunday and showed promise for the future if they can keep working together. 

“I thought they did a really good job with their paint protection, with their multiple efforts, with their contests and with their rebounding,” coach Sonia Raman said.

The Storm have had a packed schedule of games, and Raman sounded confident the group would continue to jell with more practice together. She praised the group for playing unselfishly, and also credited Melbourne for “quarterbacking” the offense.

Natisha Hiedeman did not play in Sunday’s game, sitting out with a left shoulder injury. Raman said “hopefully she’ll be back soon,” in regards to Hiedeman’s timeline. Hiedeman had quite the ironwoman streak going — she played 256 consecutive games over almost seven years, which was the longest active streak in the WNBA, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The last game she missed was on Aug. 23, 2019, when she was with the Connecticut Sun. Raman acknowledged pregame that Hiedeman was disappointed to miss the match.

“Just (a) huge credit to T for what she’s been able to do over the course of her career,” Raman said. “And I know she’s looking forward to starting a new streak very soon.”

Jordan Horston sustained a right shoulder injury in the third quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. She scored the first points of the game, which took a couple of minutes as each team came out cold. Those would be her only points before leaving with injury. She was still being evaluated postgame with no updates at that time, according to Raman.

The Storm have a week off before traveling to Dallas to play the Wings on Aug. 23.