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LAS VEGAS (Sept. 18, 2025) — The Las Vegas Aces (30-14, 2-1) held on for a 74-73 nail biter towards the Seattle Storm (23-21, 1-2) in a decisive Sport 3 on Thursday evening at Michelob ULTRA Enviornment. The quarterfinal victory superior Las Vegas to the 2025 WNBA Semifinals for the seventh time in as a few years. A’ja Wilson tied her playoff career-high with 38 factors, Jackie Younger tallied 14, together with a vital put-back with 12.4 seconds remaining, and Chelsea Grey recorded 12 factors and eight assists.
Erica Wheeler and Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 apiece and Skylar Diggins scored 13 for Seattle.
Box Score | Photos |Highlights
First Quarter Highlights (Seattle 19, Las Vegas 14)
The Aces struck first with 4 factors from Wilson earlier than the Storm recorded their first factors on the line at 8:15. A lot of the first quarter was a back-and-forth affair till Seattle ended on a 9-0 run with factors coming from 4 completely different gamers. Las Vegas went 0 of two from distance and 37.5% (6-16 FGs) from the ground. Seattle shot 33.3% (2-6 3FGs) from deep and 38.9% (7-18 FGs) from the sphere. The Aces trio of Wilson (6), Grey (2) and Younger (6) scored all of the factors for Las Vegas, whereas Diggins led Seattle with 5.
Second Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 33, Seattle 26)
Grey received the ball rolling for the Aces within the second quarter with a fast 5 factors to tie it up at 19-all earlier than Wheeler scored to place Seattle forward 21-19. A Wilson jumper, a reverse layup by NaLyssa Smith, adopted by a Younger 3-pointer on the 4:08 mark gave Las Vegas its first lead of the quarter at 26-24. Seattle tied it up lower than 30 seconds later however the Aces strung collectively 7 straight factors, 5 from Wilson, to shut the half. The Aces held the Storm to simply 7 factors within the second on 2 of 13 (.154) discipline aim capturing and held them scoreless from 3-point (0-2 3pt FGs), whereas making 8 of 12 (.667) general and a couple of of 5 (.400) from distance. Wilson led all scorers with 7 and no Seattle participant had greater than 3.
Third Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 52, Seattle 48)
Seattle opened the second half on a 9-4 run to carry itself inside 2, 37-35, a run throughout which all 4 Aces factors got here from Wilson on the charity stripe. Whereas the Aces by no means gave up the lead and have been up 52-44 at 1:10, Seattle scored the final 4 factors to slim the hole to 52-48. The Aces linked on 6 of 17 (.353), together with 5 of 11 (.455) from Wilson, and made 1 of two (.500) from deep, whereas Seattle shot 50% (8-16 FGs) from the ground and three of 4 (.750) from 3-point vary. Wilson led all scorers with 14; a trio of Storm gamers scored 5 apiece.
Fourth Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 74, Seattle 73)
The groups traded baskets for many of the ultimate body, when Seattle closed to 63-61 with 5:20 to play. Following a Wilson bucket and 1 of two from the road by Younger, Seattle hit a 3 and tied the sport at 66-all on a pair from the road at 2:20. Tied once more, 68-68, Wilson stepped to the road and gave the Aces a 2-point lead (1:33), however a 3-pointer by Seattle with 1:15 to play gave the guests a 1-point edge, 71-70. Every workforce scored once more, leaving the Storm in entrance 73-72 and 19.3 seconds to play. With 13.5 seconds to go, Wilson tried a step-back leap shot, missed barely to the appropriate, however Younger saved the possession with a vital put-back with 12.4 seconds left that ultimately sealed the sequence for the Aces after Wheeler’s ultimate try with 4.4 seconds displaying didn’t fall.
KEY STATS
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The Aces completed capturing 45.9% (28-61 FGs) from the sphere however simply 25% (3-12 3pt FGs) from distance, whereas the Storm made 40% (26-65 FGs) general and 38.9% (7-18 3pt FGs) behind the arc.
The Aces made 15 of 17 (.882) from the road and the Storm was 14 of 18 (.778).
The Storm gained the battle on the glass 33-27, together with 9-4 on the offensive finish.
The Aces gave up 11 factors on 14 turnovers and scored 16 off Seattle’s 17 miscues.
Las Vegas outscored Seattle 42-32 within the paint, however misplaced 9-2 on second probabilities and 14-5 on the quick break.
Neither workforce held greater than an 8-point lead within the sport, which noticed the 6 lead modifications and 6 tied scores.
GAME NOTES
With 14 made discipline objectives, Wilson handed Brittney Griner (341), Lisa Leslie (345), Breanna Stewart (349) and Tamika Catchings (352) to maneuver into No. 6 on the league’s all-time playoffs field goals made list with 353. Seimone Augustus (362) is No. 5. Grey additionally handed Angel McCoughtry (299) to maneuver into No. 14 with 302.
Together with her 38 factors tonight, which ties her playoff profession excessive, Wilson is now just one of 4 gamers in league historical past to report multiple 35-point playoff game, which she has completed twice. Napheesa Collier and Stewart even have 2 apiece and McCoughtry leads the W with 5 all-time.
Wilson broke a tie with Maya Moore (5) along with her sixth profession 30-point playoff game and now tied with McCoughtry for No. 3 in league historical past. No. 2 Stewart has 7 and Diana Taurasi leads the league with 8.
Wilson solely wanted 1 made free throw to maneuver previous Moore (212) and into sole possession of No. 7 on the league’s all-time playoff free throws made list. She now has 222. McCoughtry is No. 6 with 224.
Wilson turned the 5th player in W history to amass 900 points, 450 rebounds and 100 assists in postseason play; as has been the case all season, Wilson is the quickest (46 video games) and youngest (29 years, 41 days) to hit these marks. She wanted 1 level, 5 rebounds and 1 help to succeed in these milestones tonight. Candace Parker beforehand hit the trifecta in 49 playoff video games and DeWanna Bonner was beforehand the youngest at 35 years and 18 days. Rounding out the listing are Catchings and Leslie.
Grey reached 300 playoff discipline objectives made. She now has 302.
The franchise playoff report is now 38-41 in its 17th playoff look and seventh straight since transferring to Las Vegas.
UP NEXT: The Aces host the following two video games because the No. 2 seed as they transfer onto the 2025 WNBA Semifinals towards the Indiana Fever (24-20, 2-1). The very best-of-five sequence shall be performed in a 2-2-1 format, wherein the Aces preserve dwelling courtroom benefit for Video games 1, 2 and 5 (if essential). Sunday’s sport will tip at 12 p.m. and air nationally on ABC; Tuesday’s contest suggestions at 6:30 pm and shall be proven on ESPN.
Las Vegas Aces
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