Seattle Storm vs Las Vegas Aces player stats and box scores for Game 1 of WNBA playoffs [photo: @seattlestorm/IG, @lvaces/IG]

Seattle Storm vs Las Vegas Aces player stats and box scores for Sept. 23 | Game 1 WNBA playoffs

Modified Sep 23, 2024 04:46 GMT

The Seattle Storm took on the Las Vegas Aces in Sin City for Game 1 of their playoff series. Seattle came out of the gate fast and held a 42-38 lead after the first half ended. Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd and Nneka Ogwumike showed they were ready for the favored Aces.

Seattle's defense impressively locked down newly-crowned WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson. The Storm limited her to four points on 1-for-8 shooting. Fortunately for the Aces, Tiffany Hayes played arguably the best playoff game of her career, dropping 12 points in the second quarter and 20 for the game.

Wilson found her groove in the second half, and the Las Vegas Aces' defense finally showed up. The All-Star forward erupted for 15 third-quarter points while the defense held the Storm to two fourth-quarter points.

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The Aces bucked a so-so start to emerge with a 78-67 win and a 1-0 series edge against the Storm.

Seattle Storm vs Las Vegas Aces player stats and box scores

Seattle Storm player stats and box scores

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
N. Ogwumike	13	10	3	2	1	0	6-17	1-5	0-0	-11
G. Williams	14	8	2	0	1	4	6-15	2-4	0-0	-1
M. Russell	8	12	0	1	0	5	3-7	0-0	2-2	+1
S. Diggins-Smith	16	4	8	1	2	3	5-15	1-3	1-1	-10
J. Loyd	6	3	2	1	0	0	2-8	1-3	1-1	-5
J. Holmes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	-6
S. Whitcomb	0	0	0	0	0	1	0-1	0-0	0-0	-3
V. Vivians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	-6
J. Horston	10	3	0	0	0	0	3-4	0-1	4-4	-14
N. Muhl	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Las Vegas Aces player stats and box scores

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
K. Stokes	0	8	0	0	1	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	+9
A. Wilson	21	8	2	0	5	1	9-21	1-2	2-2	+3
C. Gray	16	2	7	1	1	3	5-10	1-2	5-5	+15
K. Plum	2	0	2	1	0	2	1-8	0-4	0-0	+9
J. Young	12	7	2	1	0	1	5-13	2-4	0-0	-4
A. Clark	7	3	2	1	0	1	2-3	1-2	2-2	+15
M. Gustafson	0	1	0	0	0	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	-5
S. Colson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	+1
T. Hayes	20	4	1	5	0	0	8-12	2-3	2-2	+12
K. Martin	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Seattle Storm vs Las Vegas Aces game summary

The Seattle Storm showed no fear playing against the Las Vegas Aces in front of a raucous hostile crowd. Skylar Diggins-Smith’s fast start was the key to Seattle’s impressive start. She scored the first five points and the first two assists for the Storm. The six-time All-Star led the visitors to an 18-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.

The Aces probably had their worst quarter of the season, missing all but two of their shots in the first period. They bounced back with more force and better execution in the second frame to tie the game at 25-25 following Tiffany Hayes' four-footer.

Seattle limited A’ja Wilson to four points on 1-for-8 shooting, but Hayes erupted for 12 second-quarter points after going scoreless in the first period. The Storm survived the Aces’ onslaught to take a 42-38 halftime lead.

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After struggling in the first half, Wilson was on fire for the Aces. She made 7-of-10 shots, including a triple to score 15 points. Wilson finally looked and played like a three-time WNBA MVP. The All-Star forward’s explosion allowed the defending champs to trail the Storm by just 65-64 leading into the fourth quarter.

The final period was when the Aces poured it on against the visitors. Las Vegas’ defense clamped down, holding Seattle to just two points. Skylar Diggins-Smith’s free throws were the only buckets the Storm could manage.

Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson combined to end Seattle’s goal of getting a road victory. The three, with some crucial help from Tiffany Hayes, allowed the Aces to escape with a 78-67 victory.