The Las Vegas Aces let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers in Game 2 against the Seattle Storm. With a four-point lead and just over a minute left, the defending champions looked ready to close out the series. Instead, the Storm delivered clutch shots behind the steady hand of Skylar Diggins-Smith, rallying to an 86–83 victory that left the Aces frustrated and searching for answers.
Head coach Becky Hammon did not hide her disappointment when the game was over. Speaking candidly, she laid out the issues that defined the collapse.
“We missed nine free throws,” Hammon said, via ESPN’s Kevin Pelton. “Fifteen turnovers. No execution. A turnover right out of a timeout. It’s a shame. I feel like we let that one go. And our defense down the stretch was poor, soft. Soft.”
Her frustration was not without cause. A’ja Wilson, the Aces’ superstar forward, failed to score in the final seven minutes of the contest. Much of that credit went to Storm rookie Dominique Malonga, whose length and defensive discipline disrupted Wilson’s rhythm. According to GeniusIQ tracking, Wilson shot just 1-for-3 in 29 half-court possessions matched up against Malonga, a rare sight for one of the league’s most dominant scorers.
Hammon admitted the Aces needed to adjust their approach when facing Malonga. “We’ve got to do a better job of getting her in motion rather than just those static post isolations,” she explained. “She’s long, she’s athletic. We have to move her more. I thought A’ja missed a couple of looks, but she still got to the free throw line 11 times. We could have been more efficient with her, no question.”
The timing of the loss could not have been worse. The Aces entered Game 2 riding a 17-game winning streak, carrying the confidence of the hottest team in the league. Instead of sealing the series, they now find themselves headed back to Las Vegas for a decisive Game 3 with everything on the line.
The Storm, buoyed by their comeback, will enter the deciding matchup brimming with momentum. Their ability to close out under pressure has already shaken the confidence of a team that seemed untouchable just days ago.
For the Aces, the message from Hammon was crystal clear: championship teams cannot afford to crumble in the closing minutes. The execution must improve, the defense must toughen, and the urgency must rise. Game 3 will now determine whether Las Vegas regains control of its destiny or watches the Storm ride their surge into the next round.
