Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces/Instagram
By: Jennifer Portee
A’ja Wilson scored 30 points, Jackie Young added 23 points and eight assists, and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Seattle Storm 98-77 on Sunday night for their fifth straight victory.
Wilson made 16 of 18 free throws and finished 7-for-13 from the field. It was her 49th career 30-point game, moving her within five of Diana Taurasi’s WNBA record of 54.
Las Vegas improved to 29-13 and maintained a one-game lead over Atlanta for third place in the standings. The top four teams will have home court advantage in the best-of-three first round of the playoffs.
Young scored 12 points during a 21-2 first-quarter run that gave the Aces a 27-12 lead with 1:40 remaining in the period.
Seattle responded in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to two points on two occasions, but could not take the lead. Las Vegas regained control and pulled away after halftime.
Chelsea Gray added 15 points for the Aces.
Flau’jae Johnson had a season-high 29 points for Seattle and made five 3-pointers. Dominique Malonga scored 25 points on 10-for-13 shooting.
The Storm fell to 8-35 and have lost 18 of their last 20 games, securing the league’s worst record.
Seattle hosts Dallas on Wednesday in its regular-season finale. Las Vegas hosts Los Angeles on Tuesday.