The Aces won the first game of the best-of-three series against the Storm, 78-67. A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks, while Tiffany Hayes added 20.
GAME 1 DUB ✔️#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/w5HGF2Bkub
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 23, 2024
Aces Storm
The Aces got off to a slow start, shooting 2-12 from the field, with A’ja Wilson struggled starting 0-6 from the field. They trailed the Storm 11-7 halfway through the first quarter. The struggles would continue as they would close the quarter 2-18 from the field trailing 18-9.
In the second quarter the Aces would warm up going on a 8-2 run cutting the deficit to 3, 20-17. Chelsea Gray would tie the game at 27 after shooting a stepback jumper and drawing the foul.
Chelsea Gray makes the and-one stepback, tying us at 27.#ALLINLV | #WNBA pic.twitter.com/GkuzUCZCSB
— Dice City Sports (@DiceCitySports) September 23, 2024
After the review, it was raised to a flagrant one, and Gray sank the free throw, followed by a Hayes three-pointer to put the Aces up four, 31-27. With the game knotted late in the second quarter, the Storm scored the last four points, putting them up 42-38 at halftime.
A’ja Wilson came alive in the third quarter for the Aces, shooting 7-10 from the field scoring 15 of her 19 points.
"The M'V3 has ARRIVED!" ????????????
A'ja Wilson scores 11 PTS in the 3Q to cut Seattle's lead to just 1
SEA-LVA on ESPN | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/EypPA05VFz
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 23, 2024
The Aces shot 57.9% from the field in the third quarter, but trailed 65-64 entering the fourth quarter. They would begin the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run, keeping the Storm scoreless for the opening 5 minutes and taking a 70-65 lead.
The Aces defense shut down the Storm in the fourth quarter, allowing just two points while scoring fourteen. They won the game 78-67, with four players in double digits.
Four Aces scored in double digits, led by A’ja Wilson with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. Wilson scored 17 of her 21 points in the second half, going 8 for 13 from the field.
Tiffany Hayes ended with 20 points off the bench, providing a spark for the Aces. Chelsea Gray scored with 16 points, while Jackie Young finished with 10, rounding off the Aces double-digit scoring.
Seattle had three players in double digits, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith (16), Gabby Williams (14) and Nneka Ogwumike(13).
The second game of this best-of-three series will take place on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN.
