Displaying the depth and power of a championship team after the loss of forward DeMya Walker on Thursday, Sacramento dispatched Seattle, 75-65 in a nationally televised game the defending champion Storm never seemed a threat to win. The Monarchs were paced by Yolanda Griffith's season-high 26 points. Kara Lawson chipped in 18. Seattle would have clinched a playoff spot with a win, but added to its spotty road record (5-11) and wasted a 16-point, 15-rebound effort from Lauren Jackson.

Sacramento, winners of three in-a-row and 10 of 11, clinched the conference title and homecourt advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Storm fell into a second-place tie with Houston in the Western Conference.