Could 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Wilson official basketball with WNBA brand goes by way of the online throughout the recreation between the LA Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Area. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs A’ja Wilson scored 21 factors, Tiffany Hayes added 20 off the bench and a robust defensive efficiency within the fourth quarter led the host Las Vegas Aces to a 78-67 win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday evening in Recreation 1 of a best-of-three, first-round playoff collection.
Las Vegas held Seattle with no discipline objective within the fourth quarter, and the Storm did not rating within the body till Skylar Diggins-Smith made a pair of free throws with 4:07 to go.
Seattle went 0-for-12 from the ground within the closing 10 minutes of motion.
The Aces, struggling to generate offense in opposition to Seattle’s personal stifling protection, had been solely up by 5 when Diggins-Smith went to the foul line. They did not rating within the fourth till Kelsey Plum made a layup with 7:08 left, Plum’s solely factors of the evening.
Following the late free throws from Diggins-Smith, Las Vegas rattled off eight unanswered factors to shut the sport.
Chelsea Grey, who completed with 16 factors for the Aces, bookended the game-closing run with a pair of baskets. Grey additionally dished out a team-high seven assists.
Jackie Younger added 12 factors and grabbed seven rebounds for Las Vegas. Wilson, who was named unanimous WNBA MVP earlier Sunday, matched Kiah Stokes with a team-high eight rebounds.
Nneka Ogwumike recorded a double-double of 13 factors and 10 rebounds within the loss. Gabby Williams scored 14 factors and grabbed eight boards, and Mercedes Russell completed with eight factors and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Diggins-Smith led Seattle with 16 factors and a game-high eight assists. Las Vegas held Jewell Loyd to only six factors on 2-of-8 capturing from the ground in her return from a knee harm.
The Storm went 25-for-68 from the sphere (36.8 %), struggling to search out scoring alternatives inside. Wilson was excellent when it got here to defending the rim, recording 5 blocked pictures.
Ezi Magbegor (concussion) was out for Seattle, which took a 65-64 lead into the fourth earlier than going chilly.
–Subject Stage Media