Aces close out Storm 83-76 and will make their sixth consecutive WNBA semifinal appearance
Kelsey Plum recorded 29 points, while A’ja Wilson contributed 24 points and 13 rebounds, leading the Las Vegas Aces to an 83-76 victory over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night. This win allowed the Aces to advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
Las Vegas has now achieved 11 consecutive home playoff victories and completed a sweep of the best-of-three series, setting the stage for a rematch against the top-seeded New York team, which will commence on Sunday. The Aces are aiming to become the first franchise to secure three consecutive championships since the Houston Comets won four in a row from 1997 to 2000 during the league's inaugural seasons.
Wilson established a WNBA record by achieving 20 or more points and at least 10 rebounds in 13 playoff games, surpassing the previous marks set by Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker. The WNBA MVP, who struggled initially by missing her first six attempts in Game 1, rebounded to shoot 5 of 7 in the first quarter, ultimately finishing with 9 of 17 from the field.
After the Storm took their first lead of the game with 7:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Aces responded by scoring the next seven points, regaining a 71-65 advantage following Jackie Young’s fast-break layup.
Seattle had an opportunity to narrow the gap to 78-74 with 2:22 left, but Ezi Magbegor failed to convert both free-throw attempts. Chelsea Gray then extended the lead with a jumper from the free-throw line, pushing the margin to eight points. Tiffany Hayes secured the victory with a layup amidst traffic with just 46 seconds remaining.
Gray contributed 12 points and nine assists for the Las Vegas team. Plum, who managed only two points in Game 1, rebounded impressively by shooting 11 of 15 from the field.
For Seattle, Gabby Williams led with 20 points, while Nneka Ogwumike recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds. Magbegor, who was sidelined in Game 1 due to a concussion, added 14 points. Skylar Diggins-Smith contributed 13 points, and Jewell Loyd was limited to nine points on 3-of-11 shooting. In the first half, Seattle achieved a 6 of 12 success rate from beyond the arc, ultimately finishing with 8 of 23.
Las Vegas established an early double-digit lead by making nine consecutive shots in the first quarter. Wilson executed a three-point play, followed by Gray hitting a 3-pointer on the subsequent possession, allowing Las Vegas to initiate the game with a 15-4 run. Plum and Gray each connected on a 3-pointer in consecutive possessions, further extending the lead to 23-7.
Wilson, Plum, and Gray collectively contributed to all 28 of Las Vegas' points in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Seattle mounted a 9-0 run, narrowing the gap to 39-38 while Las Vegas experienced a scoring drought of over four minutes. However, the Aces finished the half strong with a 6-0 run, highlighted by Wilson's two free throws with just 2.8 seconds remaining.
SportsLigue