‘It’s a shame’: Aces’ winning streak snapped, setting up must-win Game 3
Summary
The Seattle Storm beat the Las Vegas Aces 86-83 in Game 2 of their best-of-three first-round WNBA series in Seattle, ending the Aces’ 17-game winning streak. The Storm closed the game with a furious run — including a key 3-point play by rookie Dominique Malonga and a clutch jumper from Skylar Diggins — and celebrated a come-from-behind victory as Jewell Loyd’s last-second attempt rimmed out.
The Aces led by 14 in the third quarter but were outscored 25-14 in the fourth and managed only four points in the final four minutes. Jackie Young led the Aces with 25 points, A’ja Wilson had 21 points and 13 rebounds but was limited after a heavy fall in the third, while Diggins scored 26 and Nneka Ogwumike added 24 for the Storm. The series is tied 1-1; Game 3 — winner takes all — is set for Thursday at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Key Points
- Seattle won Game 2, 86-83, snapping the Aces’ 17-game winning streak.
- Skylar Diggins led the Storm with 26 points; Nneka Ogwumike added 24.
- Jackie Young scored 25 for the Aces; A’ja Wilson finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds but was limited after a fall.
- Rookie Dominique Malonga completed a late 3-point play that swung momentum; Diggins’ jumper with 4.7 seconds left put Seattle ahead.
- The Aces blew a 14-point third-quarter lead and scored just four points in the final four minutes.
- Game 3 is a home, winner-takes-all match for the Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on Thursday evening.
Context and relevance
This is a major playoff moment: a top-seeded Aces side riding a huge winning streak now faces immediate elimination. The result underscores how quickly momentum can flip in short playoff series and places added pressure on coach Becky Hammon and her stars to reset at home for a single do-or-die game. The match also highlights the Storm’s resilience and the impact of veteran play (Diggins, Ogwumike) and timely contributions from younger players (Malonga, Wheeler).
Why should I read this?
Quick take: if you care about the WNBA, the Aces, or big playoff drama, this is the stuff — streaks end, stars get hurt, and now everything comes down to one night at home. You’ll want the context before the must-win Game 3.
Author style
Punchy — this is playoff-level urgency. The piece flags the key turning points and puts the Aces’ loss into immediate playoff consequence: win or go home. Read the detail if you want the quotes and the late-game sequence that decided the series so far.
