Without Loyd and Magbegor out, Seattle Storm fall to Aces 85-72
Sep 17, 2024, 10:35 PM | Updated: 10:39 pm
SEATTLE (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and set the WNBA record for most rebounds in a season as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Seattle Storm 85-72 on Tuesday night.
Seattle Storm 85, Las Vegas Aces 72: Box score
Her seven rebounds moved her past Chicago rookie Angel Reese for the most in a season with 451. Reese’s season is complete after a wrist injury earlier this month. Wilson also extended her league record for points in a season, and now has 1,021.
Former UW Huskies star Kelsey Plum also had 21 points for Las Vegas.
Seattle played without leading scorer Jewell Loyd (19.7 ppg) and Ezi Magbegor, both out with injuries.
Nneka Ogwumike scored 19 points, Skylar Diggins-Smith had 17 and Gabby Williams scored 14 for the Storm.
A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum combined for 42 PTS to lead the Las Vegas Aces to the win over the Storm 🔥
Wilson: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 9-18 FG
Plum: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 5 3PM, 7-11 FGA'ja also set the single szn rebound record with 451 REB and counting!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/AussjHUUWh
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 18, 2024
The loss locks Seattle (24-15) into the fifth playoff spot where it is likely to play Las Vegas in the first round. The two-time defending champion Aces (26-13) are in fourth place heading into their final game at home against Dallas (9-30) on Thursday.
Las Vegas is one game behind Connecticut (27-12) which has a home game on Thursday against Chicago (13-26).
Diggins-Smith gave the Storm their first lead of the game, 65-64 with 8 1/2 minutes left. But the Aces regained control, scoring the next eight points and extending the run to 17-2 on a driving layup by Chelsea Gray that made it 81-67 with two minutes left.
Jackie Young had 16 points and six assists for Las Vegas and Gray scored 13.
Plum scored at the first-half buzzer for Las Vegas and the Aces led 48-40 at halftime.
Diggins-Smith’s nine assists give her 1,504 for her career. She is the 11th player in WNBA history to record 1,500 assists.
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