Aces hold off Seattle Storm 109-100 in regular season finale
Aug 14, 2022, 3:02 PM | Updated: 5:45 pm
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chelsea Gray had 33 points, seven rebounds and nine assists and Las Vegas wrapped up the Commissioner’s Cup for the best regular-season record in the WNBA, defeating the Seattle Storm 109-100 in a regular-season finale on Sunday.
Las Vegas Aces 109, Seattle Storm 100: Box score
Kelsey Plum, who had 23 points for the Aces, scored seven points in the final minute. Her 3-pointer with 58 seconds left put Las Vegas up by six and she added two more field goals as the Aces (26-10) clinched the top seed in the playoffs.
AND DEFENSE TURNS TO OFFENSE FOR THE @LVACES 🔥
📺 @ABC pic.twitter.com/bBF1m2UXyZ
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 14, 2022
Seattle’s Jewell Loyd scored a career-high 38 points that included 8 of 14 from 3-point distance. The Storm (22-14) made 18 3-pointers.
EIGHT THREE POINTERS. CAREER HIGH 38 POINTS. TAKE A BOW @jewellloyd 🔥🔥🔥#Go1dMamba pic.twitter.com/vlRFRL49Zq
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 14, 2022
A’Ja Wilson had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Aces and Riquna Williams scored 11 points. Gray was 10-for-15 from the field and 11-for-11 from the free throw line where the Aces made 20 of 24 as a team. Seattle was 6-for-7 from the line.
Breanna Stewart had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Storm and Gabby Williams added 11 points.
Briann January’s 3-pointer with about two minutes left in the third quarter put the Storm up by 10 before Las Vegas closed the period with a 12-0 to lead 78-76 heading to the fourth.
Sue Bird became the second player in WNBA history to make 1,000 career 3-pointers with a trey in the first quarter.
𝐒𝐔𝟑 𝐱 𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 🐐@S10Bird drains her 1000th career three-pointer! #TakeCover pic.twitter.com/eMTjS2YFFf
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 14, 2022
Las Vegas defeated Chicago and Seattle in consecutive games to clinch the top playoff spot, having defeated the defending champion Sky 89-78 on Thursday.
Seattle was already assured of the No. 4 seed and will open the playoffs at home against No. 5 Washington on Thursday.
The Aces’ opening-round opponent will be either New York or Phoenix, pending the outcome of the Mercury’s game against Chicago later on Sunday.
Last time: Seattle Storm set WNBA record with 37 assists, beat Sky 111-100
