Storm Struggle, Aces Win 84-79

Las Vegas rallies in the 2nd half to beat Seattle.

(Seattle, WA) - The Seattle Storm (14-8) had their opportunities but ultimately weren’t able to overcome the talented Las Vegas Aces (14-7) team. Despite a strong first half where Seattle limited Las Vegas to just 30 points total, the Storm couldn’t keep that momentum for the full 40 minutes. Las Vegas exploded for 30 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Storm by 11 (30-19) to take command of the game. Seattle tried to battle back in the fourth quarter but the Aces were able to knock down critical shots to hold onto their lead down the stretch. Behind a monster game from A’ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Seattle Storm 84-79.

Ezi Magbegor spoke after the game about what happened.

“We came in with a defensive mindset. I think a lot of our offense stems from our defense. So when we're being aggressive, when we're getting deflections, when we're playing help defense, I feel like that just triggers our offense. We want to do that. We want to do that throughout all four quarters. And I think we did a great job of starting the game like that. But obviously they have great players. So just figuring out how to stop… obviously Jackie had a great game. I think that it doesn't stem down to one person. It's team defense. So just figuring out how to lock her up.” Magbegor said.

“They had a 30-point quarter, and that's not what we want to give teams. It's obviously the second time we've done that with a team, and I think when we can sustain aggression defensively throughout all four quarters and we put ourselves in great positions to win. I think we did a great job of coming back in the fourth quarter.” Ezi added.

Seattle’s backcourt led the way. Jewell Loyd and Skylar Diggins-Smith outplayed Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray. Loyd finished with a game-high 28 points. Jewell didn’t have the most efficient shooting game. She made 8-22 FG but she did convert 10-11 FT. No other player on the Storm had more than two free throw attempts. Diggins-Smith finished with 16 points and a game-high eight assists. Skylar was more efficient making 7-13 FG, better than 50%.

Unfortunately, after arguably her best game of the season where she finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, Nneka Ogwumike had probably her worst shooting game of the season. Ogwumike shot 4-15 FG. She was limited to just nine points ending her double-digit point streak of consecutive games. Nneka finished with a near double-double of nine points and eight rebounds. She played solid defense against A’ja Wilson at times but needed to score more to counter the productive MVP front-runner.

Ezi Magbegor did have a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She was the most efficient starter. She made 5-7 FG attempts. Frankly, she needed to be more aggressive. Ezi didn’t take enough shots.

Coach Noelle Quinn also talked about what went wrong in the second half.

“I felt like in the second half, a couple of miscues with the flares, the back screens, things that weren't happening in the first half. But we knew that they weren't going to have the same first half that they had and that we needed to tighten up. At the end of the day, we can't give up a 30-point quarter. So it wasn't just Jordan on Jackie in that assignment. It was a team defensive effort and lapse. And at the end of the day, it's difficult to come back from that when you give the defending champs that much fire or energy.” Quinn said.

Las Vegas Aces

The presumptive MVP front-runner, A’ja Wilson, had the first 20-20 game of her already impressive WNBA career. She finished with 24 points and 20 rebounds. She also had four blocked shots and three steals to boot. Wilson scored 16 of her 24 points in the 2nd half including 10 points in the fourth period to prevent Seattle from a successful rally.

While A’ja dominated overall, the Aces made a huge run in the game after Wilson went to the back to have her bloody nose treated. Jackie Young was the main factor in that game-changing run. At one point, the Aces outscored Seattle 14-2 in the third period. Young scored 17 of her 27 points in that quarter. Young added five rebounds and four assists.

Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray were the two other Aces players to score in double figures. Plum finished with 13 points and Gray added 11 points and a team-high six assists.

Las Vegas outshot Seattle 43% (30-70 FG) to 40% (31-77 FG). Vegas was also better with their three-point shooting despite their sluggish start in the first half. The Aces made 22% (5-23 FG) which wasn’t great but better than Seattle’s sub-18% (3-17 FG). The Aces also had a five-point advantage from the free throw line. Las Vegas was excellent from the charity stripe. They made 19-20 FT (95%) compared to Seattle’s 14-16 FT (88%).

Game Breakdown

Jackie Young got to the rim to score the game’s first basket. She scored again on Las Vegas’s next possession. Jordan Horston hit a deep jumper. Ezi Magbegor made a layup. Skylar Diggins-Smith then got back-to-back layups. Seattle used an 8-0 run to take a quick lead early in the game. The Storm had multiple opportunities to expand their lead but committed multiple unforced turnovers. A’ja Wilson was able to score over both Ogwumike and Magbegor.

Skylar Diggins-Smith got dribble penetration and fed the ball to Magbegor for two. Jackie Young got another layup. Jewell Loyd scored her first basket.

Seattle went up 15-8 after Ogwumike made a three-pointer at the top of the arch. Chelsea Gray countered with a corner three-ball. Coach Quinn called a timeout. Jewell was able to cut to the rim and was fouled. She made both free throw shots. Tiffany Hayes received a pass from Alysha Clark and finished at the rim.

At the end of the first quarter, the Storm led 17-13.

Hayes was fouled to start the second period to cut the Aces’s deficit to two. Sami Whitcomb picked Plum’s pocket and raced the other way for two. Kelsey fought back and connected on her first three-point make of the game. Nneka and Joyner Holmes made back-to-back baskets to put the Storm up 23-18.

Loyd buried a three-pointer to put Seattle up eight. The Aces would respond. Their defense got a steal that led to an A’ja Wilson open layup. Chelsea Gray made a contested jumper to pull Las Vegas within four. Ezi Magbegor made two baskets with a pair of A’ja Wilson free throws in between.

Seattle nearly committed another turnover by Skylar was able to recover the ball, dribble to the foul line, and sink the midrange jumper. A’ja Wilson made another tough shot. Alysha Clark scooped a shot in the low post. Jewell drew a foul on a strong drive to the rim. She made both free throws. Jackie Young missed a last-second three-pointer at the buzzer. The Storm led 36-30 at the end of the first half.

Young made a strong curl to the rim and scored over Horston to start the third quarter. Jewell Loyd scored an AND1 after she was fouled by Young on her jumper. Chelsea Gray made a very difficult shot with Jordan right in her face. Loyd drew another foul. It became a free throw game as A’ja Wilson was then fouled and made both of her free throws. Gray created another opportunity for Wilson and Seattle was forced to foul. Wilson made two more free throws to cut Seattle’s lead down to just three at 41-38. Seattle missed on their end and Kelsey Plum got to the rim to make it a one-point game.

A’ja was able to get a couple of blocks against Nneka but took a shot to her nose. Seattle recovered a missed three-pointer by Plum and got the ball up in transition to Ogwumike for the layup. Las Vegas finally called a timeout as it appeared Wilson was bleeding out of her nose.

Out of the timeout, Chelsea Gray made a drive to the rim and all of Seattle’s defenders stepped away from her allowing her to get right to the rim. Diggins-Smith was able to get to the lane. But then Seattle immediately gave up another drive, this time to Young. Skylar tried to drive again but missed. She yelled at the ref and immediately picked up a Technical Foul. Plum made the free throw. Then Young made a three-pointer to put the Aces up by three. It was Las Vegas’s first lead since early in the first quarter.

The Aces’s run would continue. They went on a 14-2 run and Seattle surprisingly didn’t call a timeout. Jackie Young continued to dominate knocking down jumpers and getting to the foul line. Young put the Aces up nine at 60-51 with about 45 seconds left in the quarter. Fortunately, Skylar Diggins-Smith was able to score twice to end the period. First on a drive to the rim and then a tough jumper near the foul line. Las Vegas led 60-55 at the end of the third period.

Ezi made a jumper to start the fourth. Joyner Holmes then drove past Wilson for two to cut the Ace’s lead down to one. Alysha Clark made a three-pointer to quiet Seattle’s run. Chelsea Gray made a strong drive for two. Holmes continued to give Seattle some strong minutes. Loyd found her cutting to the rim for two more. She then scored on an offensive rebound putback after Vivians missed her runner in the lane. That made it 65-63 Las Vegas and forced Coach Becky Hammon to call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, Kelsey Plum knocked in a three-pointer to pad the Aces’s lead. A’ja then got a deflection that led to another fast break. SDS was forced to foul and Wilson made both free throws.

Jewell Loyd was able to score but Seattle wasn’t able to capitalize. On their next three possessions, they missed a shot and committed two consecutive turnovers. That allowed Las Vegas to increase their lead to seven after Kelsey Plum got to the rim for two.

Young made two free throws to put the Aces up nine, tying their largest lead of the game. Loyd did what she could to keep Seattle close. Knocking down a jumper and a three-pointer to pull Seattle within six at 78-72. Jackie got another layup. Skylar was able to draw a foul and made both free throws. Jewell made another midrange jumper to pull Seattle within four.

Diggins-Smith then made one of the best plays of the game. She hustled to knock the ball out of and off of Chelsea Gray’s hands as the Aces tried to inbound the ball in. The play was reviewed but the call stood in favor of Seattle’s ball. Jewell had a terrific chance to cut the deficit to two but her jumper in the lane fell short.

A’ja Wilson made a very tough contested shot to put them back up six. Loyd was able to draw a foul against Plum while shooting a three-point attempt. Jewell made all three free throws to make it a one possession game. Seattle got the stop they needed and had an opportunity to send the game into overtime. First Nneka Ogwumike had a good look at a three-pointer but it fell short. Jordan Horston grabbed an offensive rebound and they got the ball back up to Loyd. Jewell didn’t get a good look but had to force up a shot with mere seconds left in the game. The shot was well off and A’ja Wilson collected the rebound. Wilson was fouled and made both free throws. And with that, the Aces defeated the Storm 84-79.

Final Box Score

Additional Analysis

Joyner’s Good Game

One of the positives to come out of this game was the strong performance off the bench from Joyner Holmes. Holmes finished the game with eight points on 4-6 FG shooting and a couple of rebounds in less than 10 minutes of action.

Joyner was the final player cut coming out of training camp despite doing well in Seattle’s two preseason games and early practices. There was unfortunately no way Seattle was able to keep both Holmes and Victoria Vivians due to salary cap restraints. Vivians was penciled in as the team’s starting Small Forward coming out of training camp, which meant Holmes was the last player to be cut.

The way the cap and contracts worked, Seattle had to wait around 2-3 weeks into the season but they were then able to cut second-year player, Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu and re-sign Joyner Holmes. Which is ultimately what Seattle did.

The move seems to have mostly paid off. Holmes has been able to provide a spark off the bench recently. In three of her last four games played, she’s scored six points or more per game. She’s done a good job of knocking down shots and getting to the rim when given the opportunity.

After the game, the media talked to Coach Noelle Quinn and Holmes about Joyner’s strong play against Las Vegas.

“I thought Joyner gave us good minutes because they were small. Guarding AC (Clark) for us really, really mattered and you know her ability to play in space and give us some versatility defensively. When you happen to guard a guard at the forward position, I thought that she gave us really really good minutes.” Quinn stated.

“I think my mindset going into the game is play defense. I think when I turn my brain on and tell myself to play defense, my offense starts to come. But I think that's like a collective thing for all of us and I think we've said time and time again hang our hat on defense. I think my defense got my offense going tonight. I was just in the right place at the right time.” Holmes added.

Familiar Problems

Unfortunately, Seattle’s struggles against the WNBA’s top teams continued on Wednesday afternoon. Here is Seattle’s record against the top four teams in the league.

New York Liberty: 0-1
Connecticut Sun: 1-0
Minnesota Lynx: 0-3
Las Vegas Aces: 1-2

Seattle is now 2-6 against the top teams in the WNBA. It’s a big reason why they’re now sitting in 5th place in the standings. Their record against the bottom seven teams is 12-2.

The Storm face Minnesota (this Friday) and the Aces one more time. And play New York and Connecticut two more times each towards the end of the season. Seattle will need to pick up some more wins in those six games if they want any chance of moving back up into a top four seed.

Overall, the Storm are playing about what I expected heading into this season. I didn’t think they’d be quite as good as Las Vegas or New York but that they had a chance to compete with some of the other teams for the third or fourth-best record in the WNBA.

I thought Connecticut might drop a little in the standings after they lost Rebecca Allen, Tiffany Hayes, and Natisha Hiedeman. All three of those players played well and had important roles for Connecticut a year ago. But that hasn’t really been the case because Brionna Jones, DiJonai Carrington, and Ty Harris have all made larger impacts this season (Jones returning from a torn Achilles).

Minnesota has also been stronger than I expected heading into this year. I liked their additions of Alanna Smith and Courtney Williams but didn’t think they’d have quite as large of an impact as they have had. It certainly doesn’t hurt the Lynx that Napheesa Collier is developing into one of the league’s best players or that Kayla McBride has had one of her best seasons.

Seattle’s defense has helped the Storm win a lot of games this year. They have a ton of talent on the roster overall but they just haven’t been able to beat the best. Maybe it’s just the fact that Las Vegas and New York’s best players are better than Seattle’s and that makes the difference in these closer games. The Storm’s uncharacteristically poor three-point shooting has been another major factor this season. If they shot 30% from three instead of 18% in this game against Las Vegas, they would have won. It seems like that could be said for most of their losses against the other top teams.

Can the Storm change this narrative of them struggling against top competition before the WNBA playoffs begin? If they can, they could have a surprising playoff run. If not, they’re likely to be one and done in the post-season.

Up Next

The Seattle Storm host the Minnesota Lynx (16-6) on Friday, July 12th at 7:00 PM PDT at Climate Pledge Arena. The Storm have already lost three games to Minnesota this season. They will try to avoid the complete 4-game sweep. A win is important to give Seattle some confidence in case these two teams match up in the playoffs.

Notes:
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