The Las Vegas Aces are the first WNBA This would be the first time a team has won three straight championships since the Houston Comets won four in a row in the league's early years. It's a tall task, and one that seemed unlikely when they started the season at 6-6, but with four Olympians and the best player in the world, they're far from invincible.
Tiffany Hayes has been a key addition off the bench and a leading candidate for sixth player of the year honors, providing a much-needed boost after a slow start, while Kelsey Plumb has found her rhythm after the Olympics.
Aces vs Storm playoff schedule:
Game 1 will be on Sunday, September 22nd at 10pm in Las Vegas (broadcast on ESPN).
Game 2 will be on Tuesday, September 24th at 9:30pm in Las Vegas (broadcast on ESPN).
Game 3, if necessary, will be played in Seattle on Friday, Sept. 27 (time TBA, broadcast on ESPN2).
Regular season series: Vegas wins 3-1
Players to watch:
Aces: Aja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray
Storm: Nneka Ogwumike, Jewel Loyd, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Eji Magbegor
Prediction: Ace in three matches.
The Aces have been doing better than the Storm this season, especially since the hiatus. Since the Olympics, the Aces are 11-5 and the Storm are 8-7, and there's no denying there were frustrating moments after disappointing losses. The Storm haven't had many notable wins this year, going 4-10 against the top four teams in the league this season and coming off big wins against teams that aren't in the playoffs, no matter how talented this roster is on paper.
There are also health concerns. The Aces finished the season with a full roster, but Seattle has been without Jewell Loyd (knee) and Edgie Magbegor (concussion) for the past few games. Storm head coach Noel Quinn confirmed that Lloyd could return, but it's unclear if he'll be available with a full roster. If Magbegor is sidelined, Seattle's defense will be a different beast.
Nneka Ogwumike is playing at an MVP level this season, Diggins-Smith is averaging 18.5 points (on 47.6% shooting) and 6.3 assists since the hiatus, and while Lloyd isn't yet as efficient (35.7% shooting since the Olympics), he's always a threat offensively, especially in late game situations.
A big question for Vegas this season will be the play of their guards alongside A'ja Wilson. Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray all regressed early in the year and have performed well recently, but their production and efficiency in the postseason remain questionable. Seattle could pull off a win in Vegas, but I'd be surprised if the A's don't pull out the win.
The big question: Can anyone slow down A'ja Wilson?
Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images
That will be a challenge for any team that faces the Aces in the playoffs this season, and it may be an insurmountable one. Wilson is having the best year of his career, and one of the best in league history, averaging 26.9 points on 51.8% shooting from the field. You can't stop Wilson, but the Storm need to contain him to some degree to have a chance. For this very reason, Magbegor's status going forward is especially important.
