Putting all the controversy of the previous game behind her, DiJonai Carrington let her game do all the talking as she scored a career-high 26 points against the Seattle Storm on Monday at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, while adding 6 rebounds and an assist. However, it wasn’t enough to stop the Sky from losing two back-to-back games as Seattle Storm’s Dominique Malonga scripted history herself.
Underdog WNBA on X noted that Carrington became the first player in WNBA history to record 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ steals in a game while coming off the bench. Despite being limited to just 27 minutes, she became only the second player this season, after reigning MVP A’ja Wilson, to achieve that stat line.
DiJonai Carrington did not miss a single free throw as she converted all ten of her attempts from the line. Before this game, Carrington had her most points in a game against the Liberty on June 27, 2023.
However, DiJonai Carrington’s WNBA record-setting performance fell short as the Seattle Storm’s Dominique Malonga powered her team to a 97-88 win, finally snapping their 11-game skid that started on July 9.
Malonga also scripted WNBA history with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks, and became the youngest player with three straight 20-point games. Additionally, the 20-year-old became the youngest player to reach 300 career rebounds. Natisha Hiedeman added 18 points and 9 assists as Seattle finally ended their staggering eleven-game skid.
However, it was a closely contested game as DiJonai Carrington helped Chicago narrow the lead to just two points when the scoreline reflected 84-82 with a little over three minutes remaining. While no one on the Sky roster came close to Carrington’s output, Kamilla Cardoso managed a double-double, scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds. However, Seattle held on, and the win marks a huge relief for them and their first victory since beating Los Angeles 82-64 on July 6.
Malonga continues to be the silver lining for this Seattle team that has struggled to get the results in their favor this season. Just a few days earlier, against the New York Liberty, she became the youngest player to record at least 30 points while shooting 70% from the field. She is averaging 17.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game this season, and has already earned her first All-Star selection.
“We were fed up,” Malonga told reporters after winning the game, while Seattle’s head coach Sonia Raman sang the forward’s praises.
“Dom continues to be a walking double-double. Just the improvement that we’ve seen from her this season is incredible.”
For Chicago, DiJonai Carrington’s return to form gives them a chance to make a late push for the playoffs. She has only featured in five games this season, missing significant game time due to ankle surgery and a foot injury. The Sky also have Courtney Vandersloot back in the lineup, as she also missed the first half of the season due to injury.
Seattle will look to sustain this momentum, aiming for another win against the Portland Fire on Friday. Meanwhile, Chicago faces a tough assignment as they face the Golden State Valkyries next on Wednesday.