A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and blocked five shots after receiving her record-tying third MVP award earlier on Sunday. The two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces held the Seattle Storm to just two free throws in the fourth quarter, securing a 78-67 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
Wilson started slow, making only 1 of 8 shots, and Las Vegas missed 16 of 18 attempts, falling behind 18-9 after the first quarter. By halftime, Wilson had scored only four points, and Seattle led 42-38 after Jordan Horston and Mercedes Russell each made two free throws in the last 43 seconds.
The third quarter was different, as Wilson hit seven shots, including a 3-pointer, contributing 15 of the Aces’ 26 points. Skylar Diggins-Smith added a three-point play late in the quarter, and the Storm took a 65-64 lead into the final period.
Kelsey Plum missed her first seven shots but scored the first basket of the fourth quarter at the 7:04 mark to give Las Vegas the lead. Seattle missed its first seven shots in that quarter, and back-to-back layups from Wilson and Tiffany Hayes extended the Aces’ lead to 70-65 with 4:49 remaining.
Diggins-Smith made two free throws for Seattle’s first points, bringing them within three, but Chelsea Gray scored twice in an 8-0 run that sealed the win. Seattle missed all 13 of its shots and committed six turnovers in the final 10 minutes.
Hayes finished with 20 points and five steals off the bench for the fourth-seeded Las Vegas. Gray contributed 16 points and seven assists, while Jackie Young added 12 points and seven rebounds. Wilson also grabbed eight rebounds.
She joined Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson as the only three-time MVPs in the league.
Diggins-Smith led the fifth-seeded Seattle with 16 points and eight assists. Gabby Williams had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Nneka Ogwumike recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds. Horston added 10 points off the bench.
Seattle had beaten Las Vegas by 13 points in their first meeting this season, but the Aces finished the season strong with three consecutive wins over the Storm, two by double digits.
Las Vegas will host Game 2 on Tuesday, and if necessary, Seattle will host Game 3 on Thursday.
