LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Aces stormed into the 2025 WNBA playoffs with a commanding 102-77 win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday, extending their scorching win streak to 17 games. With just one more victory, the Aces can match the WNBA record for most consecutive wins and punch their ticket to the semifinals for the seventh straight season.
But for head coach Becky Hammon, it’s not about chasing streaks.
“We’re focused on being the first to nine wins — that’s the number that counts,” Hammon said, referencing the total postseason victories needed to secure another WNBA title.
Aces superstar A’ja Wilson echoed that sentiment.
“Everyone else seems more excited about the streak than we are,” Wilson said. “That was the regular season. This is different.”
Wilson continues to build her legacy with another dominant playoff performance: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Her outing marked her 11th straight playoff game with at least 15 points and five boards, tying her with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie for the second-longest such streak in league history.
Wilson now sits 10th on the WNBA’s all-time playoff scoring list, with 878 points in just 44 games. She’s within striking distance of passing Hall of Famer Seimone Augustus (901 points).
The Aces didn’t rely on Wilson alone. Jackie Young added 18 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals, while midseason acquisition NaLyssa Smith chipped in 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks — helping anchor a defense that kept Seattle in check all night.
Las Vegas’s bench also stepped up, contributing 34 points, with Jewell Loyd leading the second unit with 14. The Aces continued their hot shooting from beyond the arc, draining 14 threes after hitting a WNBA-record 22 in their regular-season finale.
Since Hammon took over in 2022, the Aces have gone a perfect 7-0 in first-round playoff games. Their control was evident early, jumping out to a 45-25 halftime lead — tying Seattle’s franchise record for the fewest points in a playoff half.
Although the Storm showed signs of life in the second half, they couldn’t slow the Aces’ relentless pace. Seattle will now try to regroup at home, though that hasn’t been much of an advantage this year — they went just 10-12 at Climate Pledge Arena, the worst home record among playoff teams.
“We owe it to our fans to show up and compete,” said Storm veteran Nneka Ogwumike. “No matter what, we’ve got to find a way. That’s our challenge heading into Tuesday.”
The Aces, meanwhile, are chasing more than just another win — they’re chasing history. But don’t expect them to get caught up in the numbers. For this team, the mission is clear: three more series, nine more wins, and one more championship.
Game 2, is set for Tuesday night in Seattle (ESPN, 9:30 p.m. ET).
