The Las Vegas Aces had more to celebrate than a victory over the Seattle Storm on Friday, making it a notable birthday bash for stars NaLyssa Smith and A'ja Wilson. In front of an energetic home crowd, the Aces secured a tight 90-86 win much to the delight of fans who witnessed the team's 40th consecutive sell-out game — a league record. Aces' Wilson shined on her 29th birthday, turning in a stellar 29-point, 12-rebound performance that contributed heavily to their triumph, as reported by ESPN.
Jackie Young was no slouch either, dropping in 26 points, including a deciding 3-pointer with just 51 seconds on the clock. Things were looking quite comfortable for the Aces with a 63-44 lead midway through the third quarter before Seattle made a push. Nevertheless, the Storm couldn't eclipse Aces' efforts, despite a seven-point rally to kick off the final period. Young ultimately cemented the score with her late trey alongside crucial contributions across the board, as noted by KTNV.
This face-off marked the last regular-season clash between the two teams, both standing at 16-14 prior to tip-off. Smith, who was two rebounds shy of reaching 1,000 career rebounds before the game, not only met that milestone but also chipped in with 10 points. In a game that had its back-and-forth moments, the Aces proved resilient, overcoming a 16-6 third-quarter paint scoring run by the Storm to finish strong.
Dominique Malonga stood out for Seattle with season highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds, with Erica Wheeler and Nneka Ogwumike adding 16 and 12 points respectively. Brittney Sykes, suiting up for Seattle for the first time since her move from the Mystics, also contributed with 14 points off the bench. The Aces' Young, who surpassed Becky Hammon for fifth in franchise history for most made field goals with her second basket of the first half, and her teammates' combined effort help seal the deal on this memorable game.
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