’We did a much better job’: Aces win Cup opener, avenge loss to Storm

Seattle Storm coach Noelle Quinn needed to talk to her team after just 3:04 of play Sunday.

With three-time MVP A’ja Wilson, point guard Chelsea Gray, center Kiah Stokes and guard Jackie Young all scoring in a 12-5 start, the Aces sent a clear message: This time won’t be like last time.

Although the Storm attempted a late comeback bid, the Aces never trailed after their early run and beat the Storm 75-70 at Climate Pledge Arena.

The victory avenged last week’s 102-82 loss in Seattle. It also gave the Aces a 1-0 start in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“Overall, I was happy with the outcome. I mean, this is a very good team,” coach Becky Hammon said. “So tough circumstances to come in and win, but much better job. We did a much better job setting the tone.”

Wilson led the Aces (4-2) with 19 points and seven rebounds. The reigning MVP also had four blocks, one of which sent Storm forward Gabby Williams crashing to the floor in a third quarter highlight.

Williams had 20 points for the Storm (3-4), who trailed 61-47 entering the fourth quarter but rallied to make things close.

The Aces were only up three points with 13.3 seconds remaining, but rookie center Dominique Malonga missed a short jumper over Wilson and guard Jewell Loyd grabbed the rebound. The former Storm star, who was traded to the Aces this offseason, was then fouled and made two free throws to seal the win. Loyd finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

“Basketball is a game of runs. Sometimes you just gotta sustain the run,” Wilson said. “Just maintain it on the defensive end. You really can’t worry about what they’ve got going on.”

Fouls and turnovers

Malonga, despite missing her final field goal attempt, scored the Storm’s first eight points of the fourth quarter.

Guard Erica Wheeler added eight more to power the Storm’s comeback attempt.

It didn’t help the Aces that Wilson didn’t get to the free-throw line once in 35 minutes against Seattle. It was only the fifth time that’s happened in her eight-year career.

The Aces are 4-1 in games when Wilson doesn’t attempt a free throw, but Hammon felt her star earned a trip to the line.

“I think that A’ja Wilson was fouled a few times,” Hammon said. “But (Malonga’s) a great young talent.”

Wilson said she switched her focus to distributing the ball since she didn’t get help from the officials.

She finished with three assists, while Gray added a season-high six. Gray finished with 10 points and Young added 12.

It was overall a chaotic offensive effort for both teams. There were eight turnovers in the first six minutes. The television broadcasters noted that players complained about the slippery nature of the brand new black and white basketballs being used for the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup, but Hammon didn’t use that as an excuse.

“(The Storm) got up into us a little bit. We didn’t handle it well,” she said. “Eighteen turnovers is a growth number for our team. Normally, we take really good care of the ball.”

Bench minutes

Rookie Aaliyah Nye, a second-round pick, gave the Aces a boost by scoring a career-high 10 points while shooting 3-for-6 from the field.

Guard Dana Evans also provided a spark off the bench with nine points. Hammon said veteran forward Tiffany Mitchell was another reserve that stood out.

“Our last game, I got frustrated with the bench and kind of forgot about (Nye). I apologized for that and I told her to be ready today. Per usual, she’s ready to go. She was locked in,” Hammon said. “I thought Dana’s run for us in that first half was really, really good. She came in and was pesky defensively, and then was hitting shots. … So good bench minutes overall.”

Wilson, sitting next to Nye after the game, said the team’s trust in its bench is growing because “they be kicking our ass in practice.”

Nye hugged Wilson and praised her for being a strong mentor.

“I think we’re getting more comfortable,” Nye said of the reserves. “We want to just keep what the first group has and just hone in on that.”

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