Natasha Cloud scored 19 points as the visiting Washington Mystics spoiled Sue Bird’s jersey retirement ceremony by recording a 71-65 victory over the Seattle Storm on Sunday.

Cloud made 4 of 6 shot attempts from 3-point range for the Mystics (5-3), who quickly built a 28-point lead before seeing the Storm (1-6) nearly make a spirited comeback. Seattle scored 17 straight points to begin the fourth quarter and whittled its deficit to three with 2:48 remaining.

Ariel Atkins made a technical free throw to put Washington up 69-65 after the Storm’s Kia Nurse was whistled for a hostile foul.

Cloud added two more from the charity stripe to send Washington to its second victory over Seattle in the last three days. The Mystics recorded a 73-66 win over the Storm on Friday.

Atkins finished with 12 points and Shakira Austin collected 11 points and nine rebounds for the Mystics, who played without former WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne (neck tightness).

Seattle’s Jewell Loyd scored 16 points in her return from a one-game absence due to a foot injury.

Ezi Magbegor scored 13 points, Nurse had 12 and Jordan Horston added 10 for the Storm, who retired Bird’s No. 10 jersey after the game. The 13-time All-Star and four-time WNBA champion joined Lauren Jackson — who was in attendance — as the lone players to see their respective jersey numbers retired by the franchise.

Loyd drained a 3-pointer to trim Washington’s lead to 12-10 with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter before Atkins answered from beyond the arc to ignite a 30-4 run. Cloud sank all three of her 3-point attempts in the first quarter to finish with 11 points.

The Mystics kept their foot on the gas to seize a 42-14 lead in the second quarter.

The Storm made a modest run to trim Washington’s advantage to 46-21 at halftime.

–Field Level Media