3 takeaways from Aces’ win: A’ja Wilson stars on birthday against Storm

Before the game clock lit up for the Aces’ Friday night matchup with the Seattle Storm at Michelob Ultra Arena, there were plenty of indications that the stage was set for a special occasion.

Aces point guard Cheslea Gray arrived with a handful of pink and white balloons. Not far from her in the tunnel was teammate Jackie Young, bearing boxes of Nothing Bundt Cakes. The Aces’ mascot, an oversized bunny named “Buckets” donned a pink wig. During early warmups, “Happy birthday” signs held by fans were already scattered throughout the stands.

It was A’ja Wilson’s 29th birthday, and it was quickly evident in the Aces’ 90-86 win that she planned to play like it. Before the fourth quarter, she had already secured the third-most games with at least 20 points in WNBA history (153). She was previously tied with Breanna Stewart and Cappie Pondexter.

Fittingly, Wilson finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds.

“I have a purse full of cards, balloons and everything,” Wilson said, thanking her friends, family and fans who celebrated her. “That feeling is just amazing. It really is. Because some days are hard and some birthdays are really hard, but this one is truly special. So, I’m grateful for this one.”

Young added 26 points, Gray added 13 points and guard Jewell Loyd had 10 points off the bench for the Aces.

Here are three takeaways from the Aces’ third straight win, which, at 17-14, moved them into a tie for fifth place in the WNBA standings with the Indiana Fever:

1. Smith, Wilson connection

It was also NaLyssa Smith’s 25th birthday, and she recorded 10 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. It was her third double-double since being traded from Dallas in late June after she didn’t record a single such performance with the Wings.

In the immediate aftermath of the trade, Smith called Wilson her personal GOAT and relished the opportunity to play with someone that has influenced her game so significantly.

During shootaround, Smith approached reporters with a Louis Vuitton gift bag and said it came from Wilson, who was the first teammate in her career to ever give her a birthday gift.

There were moments in the game that Wilson and Smith looked like the spitting image of one another, especially as they each scored back-to-back hook shots midway through the second quarter to put the Aces up 31-25.

But while Wilson has joked that she rebounds as somewhat of an afterthought, Smith drags down boards with a level of aggression and fight.

Smith said postgame that rebounding has been a natural skill since she started playing basketball.

“I think I shied away from it a little bit earlier in my career,” Smith said. “But now, I feel like everybody can score the ball, but a lot of people don’t want to rebound. So, I feel like rebounding can really get you super far. It helps your team in a lot of ways. So, I think I just embrace (it).”

2. Storm rookie steals spotlight

It was clear that Storm coach Noelle Quinn was excited to debut new guard Brittney Sykes, which the team acquired shortly before Thursday’s WNBA trade deadline.

Seattle (16-15) entered the matchup with a 2-1 edge in the regular-season series with the Aces, and Quinn noted coyly in pregame that none of those matchups included Sykes.

The Aces were able to avoid a major breakout game from Sykes, who was subbed in for guard Erica Wheeler midway through the first quarter and finished with 14 points. They also held All-Star guard Skylar Diggins scoreless.

But the difference-maker ended up being 6-foot-6-inch French rookie Dominique Malonga, who scored a career-high 22 points for the Storm.

“She just keeps getting better and better,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the 19-year-old phenom. “Super talented and long with a really great touch around the basket. So with her, you do your best job to make her touches difficult. You want to constantly be fighting her for real estate. … There’s not a whole lot you can even do. If you send a double team, she’s not gonna see it. She’s too big.”

3. Third- to fourth-quarter run

The Storm went on a 17-6 run to close the third quarter and cut what was once a 19-point lead for the Aces in half to 71-63. That run continued to build as they outscored the Aces 7-0 to open the fourth quarter with Wilson and Young on the bench and cut the Aces lead to just a point at 71-70.

The Aces were able to rally with two well-timed 3-pointers from Young, who also paired with Wilson to close things out with multiple trips to the free-throw line.

Still, Hammon didn’t concede that the stretch showed some room for improvement.

“The wheels came off, and then somehow they were able to put the wheels somewhat back on,” Hammon said. “But turnovers, poor defense, poor communication — everything that got you the lead, we did none of. It’s gotta be better. We have to be able to put different groups on the floor and at least maintain. Not do a nosedive.”

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.