FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Storm - Game 38 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Storm – Game 38 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (32-6) | Seattle Storm (11-26)

 

The Las Vegas Aces were unstoppable in the final period against the Seattle Storm, taking a 103-77 victory. 

The Aces vs Storm played at the Michelob ULTRA Arena on Saturday.

In their final regular season game of 2023 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena, the Las Vegas Aces held a two-point lead with 10:55 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, they went on to outscore the Seattle Storm 34-10, finishing with a 103-77 win.

With their 18th victory at home this year, the Aces established a new WNBA mark for home wins in a season.

A’ja Wilson had a huge outing, finishing with a double-double of 30 points (12-of-21 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs) and ten rebounds.

“She’s got it factor,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said of Wilson. “If I have to explain it, you don’t know it.”

Wilson’s double-double was the 76th of her career and her 22nd of the season. That number is tied for 10th among the all-time WNBA career leaders. 

In addition, Wilson’s 22 double-doubles so far this year are the third most in a season in WNBA history and the second most of any player this year, only behind Alyssa Thomas with 26.

With 21 points at halftime, Wilson had her 27th 20-point game of the season, a new WNBA record. Wilson’s 17 field goal attempts in the first half are also the second-most in a half in franchise history. Wendy Palmer had 20 back on August 16, 1997.

Jackie Young totaled 22 points (7-of-14 FGs, 4-of-8 3s) and six assists, while Alysha Clark came off the bench, producing a career-high 16 points (4-of-9 FGs, 4-of-6 3s) and four rebounds, and Kelsey Plum had 15 points (4-of-11 FGs, 0-of-5 3s, 7-of-8 FTs) and eight assists.

The Aces handled business against the Storm 

Young has now made a 3-pointer in 30 straight games, which is the longest active streak in the league. Meanwhile, Plum saw her 30-game streak of one or more made 3s come to an end in this one.

It was the start of the Aces vs Storm first half. 

Chelsea Gray missed out on a double-double after scoring 14 points (5-of-11 FGs, 1-of-5 3s) and dishing out nine dimes.

Jewell Loyd scored 28 points (7-of-21 FGs, 3-of-10 3s, 11-of-11 FTs) for the Storm and secured ten rebounds. Sami Whitcomb contributed 14 points (5-of-9 FGs, 4-of-7 3s), four rebounds, and four assists, and Ezi Magbegor added 12 points (5-of-9 FGs) and four rebounds.

The Storm came out swinging, scoring the first five points of the game; however, the Aces responded with 12 straight points in a 16-2 run that put them up 16-7 with 4:40 remaining. Las Vegas hit 40.9 percent of their field goal attempts, while Seattle was held to 33.3 percent in the first quarter.

Entering the second quarter, the Storm fired off an 8-2 run and tied the score at 27. However, the Aces countered with a 16-4 run that gave them their biggest lead of the first half, 43-31, with 3:07 to go before the break.

Yet here came the Storm, behind seven points from Loyd, outscoring Las Vegas 12-6 over the final minutes to slice the gap to 49-43 at halftime. Seattle made 53.8 percent from the field, including 3-of-6 from distance, while the Aces netted 45 percent of their attempts overall but missed all five of their 3-point attempts.

The end of the Aces vs Storm first half. 

Neither team strung together more than five points in a row until the final minutes of the third quarter. With the Aces lead cut to 69-62, Young connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to put Las Vegas up 75-67 with 10 minutes to play. 

The start of the Aces vs Storm second half. 

The Aces made 44.4 percent of their field goals in the third quarter, including 41.7 percent (5-of-12 3s) from afar, and the Storm shot 47.1 percent from the field and 60 percent (3-of-5 3s) from behind the arc.

Counting Young’s six points to end the third quarter, the Aces strung together 13 unanswered points at the beginning of the fourth quarter to go up 82-67 with 7:58 to play. Las Vegas continued to roll through the buzzer, outscoring Seattle 28-10 in the final frame. 

The Aces nailed 60 percent of their shots from the field, 42.9 percent from 3-point range, and made all seven of their free throw attempts. In contrast, they held the Storm to 29.4 percent of their field goal attempts, including 0-of-4 from distance.

Las Vegas ended this one by making more history, achieving their 10th 100-point game (tying the WNBA record) and their 13th 20-point win (tying the WNBA record).

If the Aces win their final two games (both against the last-place Phoenix Mercury), then Las Vegas will get home-court advantage through the playoffs.

The final score of the Aces vs Storm was 103-77.

The Aces will now take on the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, September 8th, at 7:00 PM PST.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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