Storm end four-game skid by toppling Sky

SEATTLE – The KeyArena atmosphere engulfed Tina Thompson with cheers, scoreboard acknowledgments and congratulatory signs.

She was emotionless.

The Storm forward sank an open jumper from the left side to surpass 7,000 career points – increasing her WNBA record – with 9:02 remaining before halftime of an eventual 75-60 win against Chicago. But Thompson gave the equivalent of a shrug after reaching the mark, quietly interacting with teammates and ignoring the in-game celebration.

As she has throughout her 16-year pro career, Thompson let her game do the talking. She entered the matchup midway through the first quarter, and her first six points buoyed a 14-4 run to help Seattle take a 26-13 lead.

“I’m really not an accolade-type of person unless it involves a really big trophy and rings to match,” Thompson said of winning a fifth WNBA title. “I’m over it (the points).”

The Storm continued with their hot shooting in the second quarter to lead 46-28 at halftime. Seattle stitched together another 14-4 run in the third quarter, getting feeds inside to center Ann Wauters, to totally blow the game open 60-32.

Wauters was 7 for 11 from the field for a team-high 16 points.

Former Gonzaga star Courtney Vandersloot scored six points on 3-of-11 shooting for Chicago.

Chicago (13-19) needed a win to improve its shot at the fourth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. New York (14-17) is currently fourth.

The Storm, meanwhile, are already locked into the West’s fourth playoff spot at 14-18 and biding its time before a first-round playoff matchup against top-seeded Minnesota (26-5).

Storm point guard Sue Bird returned to the lineup, missing the past three games with a left hip flexor injury, and had a game-high eight assists. Alysha Clark returned from sickness but Jackson (hamstring) missed her third consecutive game. She is expected to practice on Thursday.