Could 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Wilson official basketball with WNBA brand goes by the web in the course of 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 and not using a discipline aim 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 last 10 minutes of motion.
The Aces, struggling to generate offense towards Seattle’s personal stifling protection, have 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 damage.
The Storm went 25-for-68 from the sector (36.8 p.c), 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.
–Discipline Stage Media
