Seattle: Storm start 2021 WNBA season off strong

🏀Storm: It may be with some fresh faces, but the Storm are so back. Our gals dominated in their season opener, a rematch of the 2020 WNBA Finals, routing the Las Vegas Aces 97–83 on Saturday. Only five players from last year’s title team were present to accept their Championship rings, but dominance hasn’t gone anywhere.

• Reigning Finals MVP Breanna Stewart racked up a double-double as she battled in the paint with the reigning league MVP, Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson, and GOAT Sue Bird moved up to seventh on the all-time leading scorers list. New season, same swagger.

⚽️OL Reign: Despite some tantalizingly close calls on both ends of the pitch, OL Reign finished their first regular-season match against the North Carolina Courage in a scoreless draw on Saturday.

• The rock-solid defense was steadied by defender Lauren (aka Lu) Barnes, who tied the NWSL record for most regular-season matches played (and most with a single team) with her 150th on Saturday. Cheers to those years, right, Sue?

⚽️⚾️🥎Highlights:

• The 5-0-1 Sounders maintained their undefeated status when they shut out LAFC 2–0 last night. One more win and they’ll seal their best-ever start in franchise history. Whatever they’re doing, it’s working.

The UW softball team secured a No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament. On deck: unseeded Portland State on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Play ball!