Storm Surge: Seattle Dominates Vipers 105-88 Fueled by Road Warrior Mentality
Doyle's Double-Double and Stone's Spark Propel Storm Past Vipers
By Marcus Thorne
LOS ANGELES – The Seattle Storm delivered a masterclass in road resilience on Monday night, silencing the home crowd at the Vipers Arena with a commanding 105-88 victory over the Los Angeles Vipers. A potent offensive outburst and stifling defense in the second half proved to be the turning points, as Seattle seized control and never looked back.
The Vipers showed flashes of brilliance early, with Kenzo Okada leading the charge offensively, but struggled with consistency from the field throughout the contest. Seattle, conversely, found their rhythm, particularly in the crucial second and third quarters, where they outscored the Vipers by a combined 52-36 margin.
Momentum truly shifted in the third quarter when Léa Roux of the Vipers managed two crucial steals, temporarily halting the Storm’s momentum. However, Seattle responded emphatically. Mila Stone ignited the Storm’s offense with back-to-back three-pointers, and captain Ronan Doyle orchestrated the attack, flirting with a triple-double. Zara Petrova added a timely triple of her own, pushing Seattle’s lead to double digits.
“We knew we had to come in here and play our game, regardless of the atmosphere,” said Storm guard Ronan Doyle, who finished with 19 points and 10 assists. “Our defense tightened up, and our shots started falling. That’s what winning on the road is all about.”
The Vipers’ inability to convert free throws, shooting a dismal 50%, further hampered their efforts. Despite a strong rebounding effort led by Léa Roux (11 boards), Los Angeles couldn’t match Seattle’s efficient scoring and ball movement.
“Credit to Seattle, they played a fantastic game,” Vipers head coach Isabella Cruz commented. “We didn’t execute down the stretch, and they capitalized. We need to learn from this and get better.”
Key performers for Seattle included Ronan Doyle with 19 points and 10 assists, Mila Stone with 19 points and 6 rebounds, and Zara Petrova with 19 points. For the Los Angeles Vipers, Kenzo Okada poured in 16 points, supported by Zara Ali’s 14 points and Léa Roux’s double-digit rebounding performance.
Key Notes:
- Seattle Storm shot 44.4% from the field compared to the Vipers’ 38.9%.
- Ronan Doyle recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists.
- Los Angeles Vipers struggled at the free-throw line, shooting 5-10 (50.0%).
- Léa Roux led all players with 11 rebounds for the Vipers.
- Seattle Storm had five players score in double figures.