A'ja Wilson scores 21 after snagging third MVP award, helps Aces beat Storm 78-67 in playoff opener
LAS VEGAS (AP) A'ja Wilson scored 21 points and blocked five shots after earning her record-tying third MVP award earlier Sunday, and the two-time defending-champion Las Vegas Aces held the Seattle Storm to a pair of free throws in the fourth quarter in pulling away for a 78-67 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Wilson made just 1 of 8 shots as Las Vegas missed 16 of 18 altogether and fell behind 18-9 after one quarter. She had four points at halftime and Seattle led 42-38 after Jordan Horston and Mercedes Russell both made two free throws in the final 43 seconds.
But the third quarter was a different story as Wilson sank seven shots with a 3-pointer, accounting for 15 of the Aces' 26 points. Skylar Diggins-Smith had a three-point play in the final minute and the Storm took a 65-64 lead into the final period.
Kelsey Plum missed her first seven shots, but she had the first basket of the final quarter at the 7:04 mark to give Las Vegas the lead. Seattle missed its first seven shots, and back-to-back layups from Wilson and Tiffany Hayes pushed the Aces' lead to 70-65 with 4:49 left to play. Diggins-Smith hit two free throws for the Storm's first points to get them within three, but Chelsea Gray had two baskets in an 8-0 run to wrap up the victory. Seattle missed all 13 of its shots and turned the ball over six times in the final 10 minutes.
Hayes finished with 20 points and five steals off the bench for fourth-seeded Las Vegas. Gray had 16 points and seven assists. Jackie Young added 12 points and seven rebounds. Wilson had eight boards. She joined Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson as the league’s only three-time MVPs.
Diggins-Smith led fifth-seeded Seattle with 16 points and eight assists. Gabby Williams finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Nneka Ogwumike had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Horston had 10 points off the bench.
Seattle beat Las Vegas by 13 the first time they met this season, but the Aces closed with three straight victories over the Storm - two by double digits.
Las Vegas will host Game 2 on Tuesday. Seattle would host Game 3 on Thursday, if necessary.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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This story has been corrected to show a possible Game 3 would be Thursday, not Wednesday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Nneka Ogwumike vs. A'ja Wilson. | ||
| 9:13 | | +3 | Chelsea Gray makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Jackie Young with the assist. | 0-3 |
| 9:00 |  | +2 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes a jump shot from 6 feet out. Jewell Loyd with the assist. | 2-3 |
| 8:59 | | A'ja Wilson misses a layup. | ||
| 8:59 | | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:52 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 8:52 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:44 | | +2 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes a jump shot from 7 feet out. | 4-3 |
| 8:43 | | Personal foul committed by Kelsey Plum. | ||
| 8:43 | | +1 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes free throw 1 of 1. | 5-3 |
| 8:37 | | Chelsea Gray misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 8:37 | | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:23 | | A'ja Wilson blocks a Nneka Ogwumike hook shot from 5 feet out. | ||
| 8:23 | | Kiah Stokes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:17 | | Jackie Young misses a jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 8:17 | | Chelsea Gray with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:06 | | Chelsea Gray misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 8:06 | | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:54 | | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 7-3 |
| 7:46 | | A'ja Wilson misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | ||
| 7:46 | | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:39 | | Jackie Young steals the ball from Gabby Williams. | ||
| 7:30 | | A'ja Wilson misses a layup. | ||
| 7:30 | | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:21 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith misses a layup from 4 feet out. | ||
| 7:21 | | Jackie Young with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:15 | | A'ja Wilson misses a layup. | ||
| 7:15 | | Jewell Loyd with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:04 | | Jewell Loyd misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:04 | | Kiah Stokes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:41 | | A'ja Wilson misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 6:41 | | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:34 | | A'ja Wilson blocks a Skylar Diggins-Smith layup. | ||
| 6:34 | | Kiah Stokes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:14 | | A'ja Wilson misses a layup. | ||
| 6:14 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:08 | | Gabby Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 6:08 | | Aces with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:59 | | Kelsey Plum misses a layup. | ||
| 5:59 | | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:50 | | Nneka Ogwumike misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 5:50 | | Mercedes Russell with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:44 | | +2 | Mercedes Russell makes a tip shot from 3 feet out. | 9-3 |
| 5:18 | | Shooting foul committed by Skylar Diggins-Smith. | ||
| 5:18 | | +1 | A'ja Wilson makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-4 |
| 5:18 | | Substitution: Tiffany Hayes in for Chelsea Gray. | ||
| 5:18 | | Substitution: Megan Gustafson in for Kiah Stokes. | ||
| 5:18 | | +1 | A'ja Wilson makes free throw 2 of 2. | 9-5 |
| 5:00 | | +2 | Jewell Loyd makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 11-5 |
| 4:45 | | +2 | A'ja Wilson makes a jump shot from 19 feet out. Tiffany Hayes with the assist. | 11-7 |
| 4:28 | | Gabby Williams misses a layup. | ||
| 4:28 | | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:18 | | Kelsey Plum with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 4:18 | | Official TV timeout. | ||
| 4:02 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 3:39 | | A'ja Wilson misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | ||
| 3:39 | | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:19 | | Technical foul committed by Aces. | ||
| 3:19 | | +1 | Jewell Loyd makes free throw 1 of 1. | 12-7 |
| 3:14 | | Mercedes Russell misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | ||
| 3:14 | | Nneka Ogwumike with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:07 | | A'ja Wilson blocks a Nneka Ogwumike layup. | ||
| 3:07 | | Nneka Ogwumike with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:07 | | Nneka Ogwumike misses a layup. | ||
| 3:07 | | Storm with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:06 | | Personal foul committed by Jackie Young. | ||
| 3:00 | | +2 | Skylar Diggins-Smith makes a layup. | 14-7 |
| 2:43 | | Jackie Young misses a jump shot from 7 feet out. | ||
| 2:43 | | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:36 | | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a layup. Jewell Loyd with the assist. | 16-7 |
| 2:35 | | Aces take a full timeout. | ||
| 2:35 | | Substitution: Chelsea Gray in for Kelsey Plum. | ||
| 2:22 | | Tiffany Hayes misses a layup. | ||
| 2:22 | | Mercedes Russell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:07 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | ||
| 2:07 | | Megan Gustafson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:58 | | Tiffany Hayes misses a layup. | ||
| 1:58 | | Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:40 | | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 18-7 |
| 1:10 | | Gabby Williams blocks a Megan Gustafson layup. | ||
| 1:10 | | Jewell Loyd with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:05 | | Mercedes Russell misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 1:05 | | A'ja Wilson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 54.2 | | Chelsea Gray misses a jump shot from 14 feet out. | ||
| 6:34 | | Kiah Stokes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 31.1 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 31.1 | | Jackie Young with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 05.7 | | Shooting foul committed by Jewell Loyd. | ||
| 05.7 | | +1 | Chelsea Gray makes free throw 1 of 2. | 18-8 |
| 05.7 | | Substitution: Sami Whitcomb in for Nneka Ogwumike. | ||
| 05.7 | | Substitution: Joyner Holmes in for Skylar Diggins-Smith. | ||
| 05.7 | | Substitution: Victoria Vivians in for Mercedes Russell. | ||
| 05.7 | | +1 | Chelsea Gray makes free throw 2 of 2. | 18-9 |
| 02.0 | | Gabby Williams misses a jump shot from 22 feet out. | ||
| 02.0 | | Storm with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:37 | | Sami Whitcomb misses a layup. | ||
| 9:37 | | Kiah Stokes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:22 | | +3 | Tiffany Hayes makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 18-12 |
| 8:56 | | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. | 20-12 |
| 8:40 | | Nneka Ogwumike steals the ball from Kelsey Plum. | ||
| 8:32 | | Tiffany Hayes steals the ball from Sami Whitcomb. | ||
| 8:28 | | Shooting foul committed by Sami Whitcomb. | ||
| 8:28 | | +1 | Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 1 of 2. | 20-13 |
| 8:28 | | Substitution: Jewell Loyd in for Sami Whitcomb. | ||
| 8:28 | | +1 | Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 2 of 2. | 20-14 |
| 8:13 | | Jewell Loyd misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 8:13 | | Kiah Stokes with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:01 | | +3 | Alysha Clark makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 20-17 |
| 8:01 | | Storm take a full timeout. | ||
| 8:01 | | Substitution: Gabby Williams in for Joyner Holmes. | ||
| 8:01 | | Substitution: Mercedes Russell in for Jordan Horston. | ||
| 7:42 | | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 22-17 |
| 7:25 | | Kelsey Plum misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 7:25 | | Aces with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:08 | | +2 | Tiffany Hayes makes a jump shot from 6 feet out. | 22-19 |
| 6:52 | | Chelsea Gray steals the ball from Mercedes Russell. | ||
| 6:46 | | +2 | Alysha Clark makes a layup. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 22-21 |
| 6:29 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 6:29 | | Substitution: A'ja Wilson in for Kiah Stokes. | ||
| 6:12 | | +2 | Chelsea Gray makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. Kelsey Plum with the assist. | 22-23 |
| 5:47 | | Jewell Loyd misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | ||
| 5:47 | | Mercedes Russell with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:39 | | Nneka Ogwumike misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | ||
| 5:39 | | Alysha Clark with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:29 | | Kelsey Plum misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:29 | | Nneka Ogwumike with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:21 | | +3 | Gabby Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 25-23 |
| 5:09 | | +2 | Tiffany Hayes makes a layup. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 25-25 |
| 4:48 | | Tiffany Hayes steals the ball from Mercedes Russell. | ||
| 4:42 | | Alysha Clark with a turnover - Lost Ball | ||
| 4:41 | | Substitution: Jackie Young in for Kelsey Plum. | ||
| 4:41 | | Substitution: Jordan Horston in for Jewell Loyd. | ||
| 4:26 | | +2 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a jump shot from 21 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 27-25 |
| 4:08 | | +2 | Chelsea Gray makes a jump shot from 22 feet out. | 27-27 |
| 4:08 | | Flagrant foul committed by Jordan Horston. | ||
| 4:08 | | Official TV timeout. | ||
| 4:08 | | +1 | Chelsea Gray makes free throw 1 of 1. | 27-28 |
| 4:00 | | +3 | Tiffany Hayes makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Chelsea Gray with the assist. | 27-31 |
| 3:32 | | +2 | Jordan Horston makes a jump shot from 5 feet out. Gabby Williams with the assist. | 29-31 |
| 3:22 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith steals the ball from Chelsea Gray. | ||
| 3:14 | | +2 | Gabby Williams makes a layup. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 31-31 |
| 2:57 | | Chelsea Gray misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | ||
| 2:57 | | Jordan Horston with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:46 | | +2 | Jordan Horston makes a layup. | 33-31 |
| 2:20 | | +3 | Jackie Young makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | 33-34 |
| 2:05 | | +3 | Nneka Ogwumike makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Skylar Diggins-Smith with the assist. | 36-34 |
| 1:52 | | Personal foul committed by Gabby Williams. | ||
| 1:52 | | Official TV timeout. | ||
| 1:52 | | Substitution: Kelsey Plum in for Tiffany Hayes. | ||
| 1:41 | | Shooting foul committed by Jordan Horston. | ||
| 1:41 | | +1 | Alysha Clark makes free throw 1 of 2. | 36-35 |
| 1:41 | | +1 | Alysha Clark makes free throw 2 of 2. | 36-36 |
| 1:22 | | +2 | Jordan Horston makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. Nneka Ogwumike with the assist. | 38-36 |
| 56.7 | | +2 | Jackie Young makes a layup. Alysha Clark with the assist. | 38-38 |
| 43.9 | | Nneka Ogwumike misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 43.9 | | Jordan Horston with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 43.1 | | Shooting foul committed by Chelsea Gray. | ||
| 43.1 | | +1 | Jordan Horston makes free throw 1 of 2. | 39-38 |
| 43.1 | | +1 | Jordan Horston makes free throw 2 of 2. | 40-38 |
| 35.0 | | Offensive foul committed by A'ja Wilson. | ||
| 35.0 | | A'ja Wilson with a turnover | ||
| 16.9 | | Mercedes Russell misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | ||
| 16.9 | | Mercedes Russell with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 13.2 | | Shooting foul committed by Alysha Clark. | ||
| 13.2 | | +1 | Mercedes Russell makes free throw 1 of 2. | 41-38 |
| 13.2 | | +1 | Mercedes Russell makes free throw 2 of 2. | 42-38 |
| 0.0 | | Skylar Diggins-Smith blocks a Kelsey Plum jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 0.0 | | Storm with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 2nd Quarter |