In a hard-fought battle on the hardwood, the Las Vegas Aces managed to narrowly hold off the Seattle Storm with a final score of 75-70. According to an AP News report, the Aces saw A'ja Wilson put up an impressive performance with 19 points, seven rebounds, and three steals to lead the team. Jewell Loyd, facing her former teammates, secured the win for Las Vegas with two crucial free throws in the final seconds.
Despite leading by as much as 17 points, Las Vegas had to fiercely to maintain their lead as the Storm, aided by newcomer Dominique Malonga's energetic fourth-quarter contributions, cut the deficit to just three points. "Loyd's free throws capped the scoring," details the AP News report, emphasizing the tense finish to a game that could have swung either way. Malonga, the no. 2 pick in April's draft, showcased her potential but missed a crucial turn-around jumper over Wilson, the WNBA defensive player of the year in 2022 and 2023.
Adding to the Aces' efforts were Jackie Young with 12 points and rookie Aaliyah Nye, who notched a season-high 10 points. An article published by the Aces highlighted Young's eight first-quarter points, contributing to the team's 55.6% field goal shooting, which provided an early advantage. Contributions also came from Chelsea Gray, who matched the rookie's 10 point total and continued to climb the all-time assists list.
The Storm, despite the loss, had standouts including Gabby Williams, who hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points. Williams and Skylar Diggins were the only Seattle players to score in double figures. Seattle, with a 3-4 record, couldn't quite replicate their previous 102-82 victory over the Aces. The Sting of defeat was notably felt as they've endured three straight losses since that high-scoring match-up. The Aces will get a five-day break before playing the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco on June 7. It’s their second Commissioner’s Cup game of the season.
