SEATTLE — The Storm dropped their final home game Tuesday to the Las Vegas Aces in their final regular season home game of the season. The back-to-back WNBA champions jumped out to a 18 point lead in the first half en route to what looked like a sure win.
However, Storm newcomer and 12-year WNBA veteran Nneka Ogwumike led the second quarter Storm surge. The 2016 MVP converted all three shots from the floor and finished with a team high 19 points. The Storm secured their first lead early in the fourth quarter off a Sylar Diggins-Smith layup but it was short-lived.
Two minutes later, two-time MVP A’ja Wilson sunk two free throws to put Vegas ahead for good. Wilson and former Washington University guard Kelsey Plum both ended the night with 21 points in the win.
“We spotted them 29 points in the first quarter. That was, like, the first problem. This is the two-time defending champions,” Diggins-Smith told media after the 85-72 loss.
The Storm guard was impressed with her team’s ability to find their brand of basketball in the middle quarters, especially being without 2023 scoring champion Jewell Loyd and post player Ezi Magbegor. Despite the loss of two starters, the Storm’s leading scorer…
