Seventh straight playoff run opens with 17th consecutive win as Las Vegas trounces Seattle

Las Vegas forward NaLyssa Smith (#3) dumps off a pass to teammate A'ja Wilson (#22) under the basket. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Las Vegas is now winners of 19 of its last 20 games after opening this year’s playoff journey with a blowout win over Seattle.

The Aces blasted the Storm, 102-77, Sunday, Sept. 14 from the Michelob Ultra Arena in Game 1 of their first round series. Dating back to the regular season, Las Vegas has now won 17 straight games.

“I love it when that happens,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “They were really good, they were locked in. [It] allowed us to get out offensively.”

During the regular season, both teams split four meetings but now the Aces will look for the two-game sweep Tuesday, Sept. 16 as the series shifts to Seattle. That game is scheduled to be contested from the Climate Pledge Arena with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m.

“It’s the first to nine wins,” Hammon said. “That’s how we want to approach it. I just tell them all the time about [winning] the moment, just be present in the moment.”

In the opening frame of Sunday’s game, Las Vegas held its opponent without a point for nearly four minutes as it built a lead as large as 12 points. Ultimately, the home team led by as many as 32 points in a game where it never trailed.

That early defensive energy saw the Aces turn in four first quarter blocks to go along with four opening frame steals. In total, the team tallied six blocks and 10 steals.

Aces forward NaLyssa Smith goes up high for a block on Storm center Dominique Malonga. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Forward NaLyssa Smith recorded two blocks on Seattle center Dominique Malonga. Smith did it all in the win on her way to 11 points, nine rebounds and those two big blocks.

“Oh, I am [having the time of my life],” Smith said. “Trust me. I am, though, honestly because winning is fun. So when winning is the standard, it raises your level and raises your will to win.”

As a team, Las Vegas held Seattle to 44% from the field on the heels of a late fourth quarter push. In addition, the team did manage to hold the opponent to just about 39% from three-point range.

The Storm were forced into 13 total turnovers as the Aces turned them into 21 points on the other end.

“It’s all married together,” Hammon said. “But when we play defense, we’re difficult to beat. 

While just having finished a regular season that may net her a fourth MVP award, forward A’ja Wilson started her playoff run with another bang. After tallying more than 23 points and just over  rebounds a game during the regular season, she posted a game-high 29 points and eight rebounds in Game 1.

After knocking down a WNBA-record 22 three-pointers in the regular season finale, Las Vegas drilled 14 more to open the playoffs. Those 14 makes came on 29 attempts for a 48% finishing mark.

Guard Jackie Young led all players with four made three-pointers as part of 18 points on a very efficient 6-of-9 from the field.

“When the ball is just sprayed around, I can’t tell you who’s going to get the shot,” Hammon said. “They’re just playing basketball.”

Las Vegas guard Jewell Loyd checks the clock inside the Michelob Ultra Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Reserve guard Jewell Loyd totaled three made three-pointers on the night on her way to 14 points. She checked into the game for the first time with seven minutes and eight seconds left in the first quarter. Almost immediately after entry, she rattled off seven straight points as part of an 11-0 first quarter run.

“It kind of just happened organically,” Hammon said. “Obviously, she’s a priority – we want to get her shots, we want to get her going [...] She’s a whole problem if she sees one or two early ones go in. We know she’s going to be cooking all night so it was nice to get her going early on.”

Fellow reserve guard Dana Evans matched the three three-point efforts of her teammate, as she scored 13 points in 23 minutes.

As a whole, Las Vegas shot 51% from the floor while racking up 23 assists on 36 made field goals.

Everybody on the roster logged minutes for Hammon’s club as everybody came into the game healthy for the first time this season. Forward Kierstan Bell returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two games of the regular season with a right lower leg injury.

In just her third game with the team, forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus got some first quarter minutes but picked up two quick fouls. She’d battle through foul trouble to finish with seven points on a perfect 3-for-3 including a made three.

“Free movement,” Hammon said. “Freedom of space and we just share and play with each other. If we do that we become very hard to stop and we become unpredictable.”