It was a contest for a few minutes and maybe one could stretch to the first quarter. The undeniable truth is the start-studded Las Vegas Aces were too much for the Seattle Storm. A 12-2 run to start the second quarter saw the Aces pull away to a 105 to 64 defeat to ruin the Storm’s home season opener. It was a given that the Aces would beat the Storm. It was a question of how many points and how.
SCORING
The how much was by 41 points and the how was by the three ball. Al five Aces players scored in double figure. Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum were tied for team-high honors with 23 apiece. A’ja Wilson (13 pts ) Candance Parker (12) and Chelsea Gray ( 14) and Alysha Clark (10) rounded out the Aces double-figure scoring. Jewel Loyd was the only Storm player to score in double figures. She finished the game with 22 points.
SLOW START HOT FINISH
After a sluggish start in which they scored just 18pts, the Aces heated up from the three-point line. The Aces made 11 of 18 threes. The Storm in contrast made 5 of 21 threes.
BIG TAKE
Rookie and top draft pick Jordan Horston played 23 minutes and made 4 of 13 shot attempts to finish with eight points. Houston looked tentative in her decision making but it was clear that she will be a star in the league.
- Storm overcome 21-point deficit to earn first win of the season
- Mariners end losing streak with solid 4-1 win versus Padres
- Loyd’s 37 points not enough to lead Storm over Sparks
- Kraken extend GM Ron Francis contract
- Mariners lose finale 12-3 as Rangers complete series sweep
GAME NOTES
STORM HIGHLIGHTS
- Loyd, who set a team-high 22 points, was scoreless in the first quarter but fired up for 10 straight points during a 3:59 stretch of the second that included the Storm’s sole three-pointer of the first half. Loyd’s performance includes four rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal.
- The Storm bench contributed with 25 points led by eight from rookie Jordan Horston, who added five rebounds, three assists and three steals in her WNBA debut.
- Ezi Magbegor and Ivana Dojkić combined for 14 points with seven each. Magbegor also tallied five rebounds and four steals.
- In her first WNBA game after recovering from injury, Mercedes Russell scored six points and got nine rebounds.
- Today was the 40th straight game in which the Storm made at least five shots from downtown. That’s the longest streak in team history, the third-longest in league history, and the current longest in the league.
ACES HIGHLIGHTS
- A’ja Wilson logged a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, in addition to one assist, one steal and one block.
- Five other Vegas players in double figures: Jackie Young (23), Kelsey Plum (23), Chelsea Gray (14), Candace Parker (12), and Alysha Clark (10).
RECORDS
- With 1:39 left to play in the second quarter, Jewell Loyd achieved her 300th career steal following a turnover by Aces’ Jackie Young.
NEXT GAME
The homestand continues Friday, May 26, as the Storm hosts the Dallas Wings at 7 p.m. PT at Climate Pledge Arena. The game is the debut of WNBA Friday Night Spotlight on ION and fans nationwide can see it on their local ION station.
