Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces: Playoff Gametracker - September 14, 2025
The Las Vegas Aces began their quest for a third WNBA championship on Sunday, hosting the Seattle Storm in Game 1 of their best-of-three opening-round playoff series. The Aces, entering as the No. 2 seed, look to continue their dominant streak against a gritty Storm team.
Aces' Dominant Run
The Las Vegas Aces concluded the regular season with an impressive 16-game winning streak, just two shy of the league's all-time record. This surge propelled them to the No. 2 seed after a mid-season slump where they stood at 14-14 on August 2nd, following a significant 111-58 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. A'ja Wilson emphasized the importance of learning from setbacks, noting that the team's play didn't always reflect their potential.
Aces' Key Players
A'ja Wilson, the reigning and three-time Most Valuable Player, is a leading candidate for her fourth MVP award. She has been instrumental to the Aces' success, averaging 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.3 blocked shots per game. She receives crucial support from Jackie Young (16.5 points per game), Chelsea Gray (11.2 points and 5.4 assists per game), and Jewell Loyd, a key offseason acquisition from the Seattle Storm.
Jewell Loyd's Return to Face Former Team
Jewell Loyd spent her first 10 years with the Storm, winning Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the WNBA scoring title in 2023 with 24.7 points per game. While taking on a more complementary scoring role this season, averaging 11.2 points per game, Loyd has excelled in 3-point shooting, matching her second-highest career output with 2.3 3-pointers per game and contributing 1.2 steals per game on defense. Her performance will be crucial against her former team.
Seattle Storm's Gritty Playoff Berth
The Seattle Storm secured the No. 7 seed after a hard-fought 74-73 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Their season was defined by a strong defensive presence, yielding the WNBA's fourth-lowest point-per-game average at 80.1 points per game. In their four regular-season matchups against Las Vegas, the teams split the series, with Seattle holding the Aces below their average of 83.6 points per game three times. Their most recent game was an Aces win 90-86 on August 8th.
Storm's Balanced Attack
Rookie center Dominique Malonga had a standout performance with 22 points off the bench in the August 8th contest. She's one of seven Storm players averaging at least 7.7 points per game, including late-season additions Brittney Sykes (11.8) and former league MVP Nneka Ogwumike, who leads the team with 18.3 points per game. Ogwumike credited the team's balanced attack and August's playoff-like games for their preparedness for the postseason.
