Jade Melbourne loses a tooth, keeps playing in Storm season opener
sportsMay 9, 202628318
Jade Melbourne had a tooth knocked out, handed it to assistant coaches, popped her mouthguard back in and finished the Seattle Storm's 2026 season opener in Seattle as the Storm fell 91-80 to the Golden State Valkyries. Janelle Salaün led the Valkyries with 20 points and tied a career high by making five 3-pointers, while Veronica Burton added 16 points. Dominique Malonga paced Seattle with 21 points and eight rebounds, and off the bench Zia Cooke and Jade Melbourne combined for 28 points. Golden State's reserves supplied more than half of the Valkyries' scoring, a depth-driven display that decided the opener and underscored Seattle's need for stronger bench support.
