Storm rout Aces 102-82 in Jewell Loyd’s return to Seattle

Nneka Ogwumike scored 23 points and Erica Wheeler had a season-high 21 as the Seattle Storm beat the Las Vegas Aces 102-82.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

May 25, 2025, 5:37 PM Updated: 5:41 pm

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Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm celebrates with Erica Wheeler during a 2025 game. (Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)

(Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)

SEATTLE (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike scored 23 points, Erica Wheeler added season highs of 21 points and seven assists, and the Seattle Storm beat the Las Vegas Aces 102-82 on Sunday to spoil Jewell Loyd’s return to the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle Storm 102, Las Vegas Aces 82: Box Score

Gabby Williams and Ezi Magbegor scored 12 points apiece for Seattle (3-1). Skylar Diggins added 10 points and eight assists.

The Storm, winners of three straight, made 11 of their first 14 shots, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and scored 34 first-quarter points — the second-highest scoring quarter in the WNBA this season — with 12 assists on 13 baskets. Ogwumike scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added four rebounds and four assists as Seattle took a 14-point lead.

The Storm shot 60% (42 of 70) from the field, made 8 of 16 from 3-point range and finished with 32 assists — third most in franchise history.

Gabby + Nneka 😤 pic.twitter.com/3HQyHNcFig

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) May 25, 2025

A’ja Wilson led the Aces (2-2) with 15 points. Loyd and Jackie Young scored 14 apiece and rookie Elizabeth Kitley — who entered game with two points this season — added 11 points.

Loyd, a five-time All-Star, was playing her first game in Seattle since she was traded to the Aces during a blockbuster three-team trade in January. She spent her first 10 WNBA seasons with the Storm, helping the franchise win titles in 2018 and 2020.

Ogwumike made a layup with about three minutes left in the first half to move past Candace Parker (6,574) into ninth on the WNBA’s career scoring list. Ogwumike has 6,584 points and needs 220 to pass Storm legend Sue Bird (6,803) for eighth.

Ogwumike made 10 of 15 from the field and finished with eight rebounds and six assists. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA draft has 3,000 rebounds and needs 14 to pass Taj McWilliams-Franklin for 10th.

Up next

The Aces play at the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday. The Storm play at Minnesota on Tuesday.

The Seattle Sports staff contributed to this report.

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