Storm edge Valkyries to clinch final WNBA playoff spot - ESPN

SEATTLE — It took until the final buzzer of their last regular-season game, but the Seattle Storm clinched the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot Tuesday night with Erica Wheeler's go-ahead jumper with 19.2 seconds left in a 64-63 win over the Golden State Valkyries.

«Think about when you're a kid and you're in the driveway, count down five, four, three… and you hit the shot. I just did it live,» said Wheeler, who pulled up in an isolation against Valkyries defensive stopper Veronica Burton.

«Those are the moments you live for and in front of this crowd. This crowd is amazing. For me, I feel good. I'm still shaking. My dad keeps hugging me non-stop. I just feel amazing. I'm happy we're in the postseason.»

The Storm had multiple opportunities to solidify a playoff spot before Tuesday. A win Sept. 1 over the Los Angeles Sparks would have all but clinched for Seattle, while beating the New York Liberty last Friday could have made it official. The Storm lost both games as part of a late-season home swoon that had seen the team go 1-7 at Climate Pledge Arena since the start of August entering Tuesday night.

With a magic number of one, Seattle didn't need to beat the Valkyries and could have clinched if the Sparks had lost at Phoenix on Tuesday (they won 88-83) or in Thursday's season finale against the Las Vegas Aces. But nobody with the Storm was interested in that scenario.

«You don't ever want to rely on other people to win or lose,» Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said. «That's not a good feeling. To be able to seize the moment, take care of business on home court against a team who is trending very positively shows a lot of resiliency but also we can breathe a little bit.»

«Quite frankly, that's not how you want to enter