The Seattle Storm’s 2025 WNBA season looked like it was over, down 14 points in third quarter of a must-win playoff game.
Neither Skylar Diggins nor Nneka Ogwumike would let it end. The pair combined for 50 points on Tuesday to propel the Storm past the Las Vegas Aces, 86-83, in Seattle, ending Las Vegas’ 17-game win streak and forcing a decisive Game 3 on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
‘We weren’t scared to play against them,’ said Diggins, who finished with a game-high 26 points, seven assists and two steals. ‘In the first game, we played hesitant. I was proud of the way we responded tonight and we had a great home crowd on our back to feed off.’
The Storm went on a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to come within two points of the Aces with 2:35 remaining in the game. Erica Wheeler spurred the outburst with 11 points in the final stanza.
Dominique Malonga made a layup and ensuing free throw to give the Storm their first lead since the second quarter, 84-83, with 31 seconds remaining. Diggins hit a jumper with 4.7 remaining to ice the game. Aces guard Jewell Loyd, who played the first 10 season of her career with the Storm, had a good look to tie it up at the end, but missed the 3-point shot that would have sent the game to overtime.
‘We know this team is hard to beat one time and we have to beat (the Aces) again,’ Diggins said. ‘We bought ourselves another 40 minutes.’
WNBA PLAYOFFS WINNERS, LOSERS: Seattle storms back, Fever fans ejected
ACES VS. STORM, GAME 1: Las Vegas dominates Seattle in Game 1 of WNBA playoff series
It was Seattle’s second-largest playoff comeback in franchise history and first playoff win since 2022, snapping a six-game postseason losing streak in the postseason. Ogwumike finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Malonga added a double-double, 11 points and 10 rebounds.
End of Q3: Aces 69, Storm 61
The Aces led by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but the Storm closed their deficit to eight points heading into the fourth. Nneka Ogwumike has a game-high 24 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Skylar Diggins added 15 points and six assists. Dominique Malonga added eight points off the bench.
Jackie Young, who turned 28 on Tuesday, leads the Aces with 18 points and five rebounds. A’ja Wilson has 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Halftime: Aces 45, Storm 44
The Las Vegas Aces are shooting 58.6% from the field, yet only have a one-point lead over the Storm at halftime. A’ja Wilson is the only Aces player in double figures with 16 points, five rebounds and two assists. Jewell Loyd is up to nine points against her former team.
Skylar Diggins has a team-high 15 points for the Storm. Nneka Ogumike added 13 points and four rebounds.
End of Q1: Aces 22, Storm 21
The Aces have a one-point advantage heading into the second quarter. A’ja Wilson has a team-high eight points and two rebounds. Jewell Loyd has been money from beyond the arc to start with two made 3-pointers. The Aces need to take better care of the ball, however, after giving up five turnovers for five points.
Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogumike leads all scorers with 11 points, while Gabby Williams added four points.
Nneka Ogwumike statistically solid
Seattle Storm Forward Nneka Ogumike has been a consistent presence in her 14th season in the WNBA. She has averaged 18.3 points while shooting 51.9% from the field. A part of the MVP conversation, she is also grabbed seven rebounds a contest.
Birthday girl Jackie Young in the house
Aces guard Jackie Young hopes to celebrate her 28th birthday with a playoff win.
You get some shoes, you get some shoes
Guard Erica Wheeler surprised the Seattle Storm dance troupe with signed AE 1s.
Here’s everything you need to know about Game 2 between the Aces and Storm:
What time is Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm?
The Seattle Storm host the Las Vegas Aces at 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT) on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
How to watch Las Vegas Aces at Seattle Storm: TV, stream
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT)
Location: Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+, Disney+, Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)
Seattle Storm starting lineup
Head coach: Noelle Quinn
3 Nneka Ogwumike | F 6′ 2′ – Stanford
4 Skylar Diggins | G 5′ 9′ – Notre Dame
5 Gabby Williams | F 5′ 11′ – UConn
13 Ezi Magbegor | F 6′ 4′ – Australia
20 Brittney Sykes | G 5′ 9′ – Syracuse
Las Vegas Aces starting lineup
Head coach: Becky Hammon
0 Jackie Young | G 6′ 0′ – Notre Dame
1 Kierstan Bell | F 6′ 1′ – Florida Gulf Coast
3 NaLyssa Smith | F 6′ 4′ – Baylor
12 Chelsea Gray | G 5′ 11′ – Duke
22 A’ja Wilson | C 6′ 5′ – South Carolina
Game 2 preview
Can A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces be stopped?
That’s the question on the Seattle Storm’s mind after suffering a 102-77 Game 1 loss to the Aces on Sunday in Las Vegas, extending the Aces’ win streak to 17 consecutive games. The series now shifts to Seattle for Game 2. With a win, the Aces would advance to the semifinals for the seventh consecutive season and tie the league’s longest win streak (18). It was set by Lisa Leslie and the WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks in 2001.
Wilson and company aren’t concerned about the streak. They want to win their third title in four years.
‘In my eyes, the streak was over when the regular season ended,’ said Wilson, who had 29 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks vs. the Storm in Game 1. ‘We have a whole new thing we have to start cooking here. And that’s what I am going to hold up to my teammates every single day.’
It’s safe to say the Aces were cooking Sunday. They shot 50.7% from the field and 14-of-29 from 3, continuing their barrage of 3-pointers after setting a regular-season record (22) in the regualr-season finale on Sept. 11. Jackie Young added 18 points and seven assists in the Game 1 win. Jewell Loyd had 14 off the bench.
Gabby Williams had a team-high 16 points and three rebounds for the Storm. Skylar Diggins and Dominique Malonga each added 12 points in the losing effort. The Storm were swept by the Aces in the 2024 WNBA playoffs and must pick up a win at home to keep their season alive. That’s easier said than done, as the Storm are the only team in the postseason with a losing record at home (10-12) this season.
Dominique Malonga’s quiet start is a win for both her and the Storm
No matter the sport, a top draft pick’s rookie season is usually a rough go. Your team most likely had that pick for a reason (they were bad) and you are expected to help right away. You’re getting used to a new league, and you may or may not have veteran players to ease the learning curve.
For Dominique Malonga, the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft by the Seattle Storm, it’s been the opposite experience. She got to play behind, and learn from, veterans Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor. She didn’t have to absorb a full load of the WNBA’s physicality every game. She was allowed the time and space to see how her game fit in the W rather than figuring it out on the fly.
Aces vs. Storm WNBA Playoffs schedule
Game 1: Aces 102, Storm 77
Game 2: Aces at Storm, 9:30 ET Tuesday (ESPN)
Game 3: Storm at Aces, TBD Thursday (ESPN2)
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