The Seattle Storm have struggled as the WNBA playoffs approach, but the recent addition of All-Star guard Brittney Sykes should add punch to the lineup in a road battle at the Las Vegas Aces.
Seattle lost its last three games but then traded guards Alysha Clark and Zia Cooke as well as a 2026 first-round draft pick to Washington for Sykes.
Sykes is averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 assists per game in her first All-Star season. The ninth-year pro is a four-time All-Defensive team selection.
Seattle (16-14) lost its last three games by a combined 10 points. Most recently, the Storm lost 91-87 to visiting Minnesota on Tuesday after allowing 28 fourth-quarter points. Nneka Ogwumike had 23 points, six rebounds and five assists, with Erica Wheeler adding 19 points.
The game was tied at 70, but Minnesota reeled off nine points over the next 2:15. Seattle pulled within 89-87 on a 3-pointer from Wheeler with 7.3 seconds left but got no closer.
“I’m super proud of our group having had a tough game on Friday and coming back and rallying back to get us into position to win the game, ” said Storm coach Noelle Quinn. “I thought we executed really well in finding the looks that we wanted. We want to not have just moral victories.”
Las Vegas (16-14) is 7-3 in its last 10 games. On Wednesday, Las Vegas outlasted Golden State 78-72. A’ja Wilson had 27 points and seven boards, sinking all 11 of her free-throw attempts to seal the win. Wilson remains second in the WNBA in both scoring (21.5 points per game) and rebounding (9.1).
Guards Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd each tallied 14 points to help the Aces grind out the win. Las Vegas held Golden State to 39.7 percent shooting, including 4-for-22 from 3-point range.
“[We were] executing the game plan at a high level,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon in reference to her team’s defense. “[We had] more attention to detail, trying to not let those little things slip, stay[ing] on top of those little things that really help you win.”
Seattle holds a 2-1 advantage in the season series, with the two teams currently tied for sixth place in the league standings.
–Field Level Media
