The Aces closed out the regular season with a 103-75 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday to extend their win streak to 16, tying the Phoenix Mercury (2014) for the second longest streak in WNBA history. If that wasn’t enough, the Aces also set a WNBA record for the most 3-pointers made in a game with 22. The win helped the Aces capture the No. 2 seed, setting up a first-round matchup with the No. 7 Seattle Storm.
The win punctuates a remarkable turnaround for the Aces, who looked like a shell of themselves to start the season with a 5-7 record. But A’ja Wilson led them back to the championship contention with another MVP caliber season, leading the league in points per game (23.4) and blocks (2.3). Can the Aces win the franchise’s third WNBA title in four years? They’ll have to go through a feisty Storm that won’t be an easy out.
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Veteran Nneka Ogwumike is the Storm’s leading scorer, averaging 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. Gabby Williams, who leads the league in steals with 99, and Ezi Magbegorin, who leads the league in blocks with 96, anchor the fourth-best defense in the WNBA.
Las Vegas and Seattle tied in the regular-season series, 2-2. Who will take Game 1? Here’s everything you need to know about the Valkyries-Lynx game on Sunday:
Halftime: Aces 45, Storm 25
A’ja Wilson led all players with 16 points and five rebounds for the Aces in the first half. She shot five of 10 from the field in 18 minutes of play.
NaLyssa Smith scored eight points and six rebounds against the Storm. Nneka Ogwumike led Seattle with nine points and six rebounds. She shot four of nine from the field in 17 minutes of play.
1Q: Aces 22, Storm 12
A’ja Wilson had eight points and three rebounds in the first quarter to lead the Aces.
Nneka Ogwumike told the ESPN broadcast what it will take for the Storm to stop Wilson throughout the night.
‘You just have to make things difficult,’ Wilson said. ‘Guarding her with team defense is what’s effective for us.’
Ogwumike had five points and two rebounds to lead the Storm.
Aces built early lead
The Aces scored the first four points of the game at home against the Storm. Las Vegas leads Seattle 15-5 with 4:43 left in the first quarter.
Skylar Diggins was spotted running back to the locker room after a substitution.
Storm’s starting lineup vs. Aces
Guard Skylar Diggins, guard Brittney Sykes, forward Gabby Williams, forward Nneka Ogwumike and center Ezi Magbegor will make up the starting lineup for Game 1 against the Las Vegas Aces.
Aces’ starting lineup vs. Storm
Forward NaLyssa Smith, guard Jackie Young, guard Chelsea Gray, forward Kierstan Bell and center A’ja Wilson will start for the Aces in Game 1 against the Storm tonight.
What time is Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces?
The Minnesota Lynx host the Golden State Valkyries at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) on Sunday, Sept. 14 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
How to watch Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces: TV, stream
Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Michelob Ultra Arena (Las Vegas)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Aces vs. Storm WNBA Playoffs schedule
Game 1: Storm at Aces, 10 p.m. ET Sunday (ESPN)
Game 2: Aces at Storm, 9:30 ET Tuesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Storm at Aces, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)
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