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Seattle forward Breanna Stewart finished one-point shy of tying the record for most points scored in an WNBA Finals game during game one of this year’s finals.
The Storm defeated the Las Vegas Aces, 93-80, Friday, Oct. 2 from the IMG Academy in Florida.
Seattle now leads the best-of-five series 1-0 over Vegas. Game two is set for 12 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 from the ‘Wubble’ in Florida.
Stewart finished with 37 points and 15 rebounds becoming the first player in league history to compile 35-plus points and at least 15 rebounds.
In addition, the former Connecticut Husky outscored the Aces, 15-13, by herself in the fourth quarter. She left the floor with a little under three minutes left to play in regulation.
All-star guard Sue Bird set all kinds of records with her 16-assist performance in game one, setting a new career mark along with a new playoff and finals record for the league.
The 17-year veteran scored only two points but also pulled in five rebounds.
Guard Jewell Loyd was second on the team in scoring with 28 points on 11-of-17 from the field.
At one point in the second quarter, Vegas led 34-31. From that point on, Seattle would go on a 18-0 run that would put a stranglehold on the game.
The Storm led 57-40 heading into halftime and had made 63 percent of their shots while holding the Aces to just 30 percent shooting from the field.
The lead ballooned to as much as 19 points after Vegas opened the game scoring the first eight points for either side.
After a furious comeback, Vegas tied the game at 67 in the third quarter, a 10-minute stretch where the Aces were plus 15.
Vegas forward Angel McCoughtry led the way for the Aces with 20 points including going 4-of-5 from three-point range.
She helped lead a Vegas team, who finished last in the league in three-point shooting, to a 10-for-21 night from beyond the arc.
On the other side, Seattle made nine of their 25 three-point attempts.
Prior to this game, McCoughtry has played in three WNBA Finals and is the all-time leading scorer in WNBA Finals history.
She is still looking for her first win as this loss dropped her career record to 0-10 in WNBA Finals games.
League Most Valuable Player, A’ja Wilson, scored 19 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the field and reeled in six rebounds for the Aces.