Aces Return With a 37-Point Statement
The Las Vegas Aces came out of the WNBA’s two-week international break looking rested, sharp and very loud.
Las Vegas crushed the Seattle Storm 114-77 on Sept. 17 at Climate Pledge Arena, improving to 28-13 with three regular-season games left. The win kept the Aces in third place and firmly in the race for a top-four seed, which carries home-court advantage in the first round.
That is the real September drama. The eight-team playoff field was already set before the break, so the Aces are not fighting for a postseason invitation. They are fighting for position, a friendlier opening matchup and more basketball at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Jackie Young delivered the headline performance in Seattle. She scored a career-high 35 points and tied a WNBA record with 22 points in the first quarter. A’ja Wilson added 29 points as Las Vegas led from start to finish. The Aces were ahead by 18 at halftime and pushed the margin to 37 by the final horn.
The official game summary listed 44 points in the paint, 17 fast-break points and 37 bench points for Las Vegas. The Aces also finished with 29 assists, according to the team’s recap. That is not just a win. That is a full-system reboot.
Young Set the Tone Immediately
Young hit eight of her first nine shots, including three of four attempts from 3-point range, during her record-tying opening quarter. She finished with the highest-scoring game of her WNBA career.
Wilson supplied the second punch. Her 29 points helped Las Vegas post its highest total since the franchise scored 118 against Atlanta in July 2021. Kalani Brown and Dana Evans each added 10 points off the bench.
The opponent matters here. Seattle entered the game at the bottom of the league standings and fell to 8-33. Las Vegas was expected to win. Still, contenders are supposed to handle struggling teams without turning the fourth quarter into a casino sweat. The Aces did exactly that.
The victory also built on the team’s strong finish before the World Cup break. Las Vegas beat Toronto 93-73 on Aug. 28, giving the Aces consecutive wins by at least 20 points around the pause in the schedule.
What the Standings Mean for Las Vegas
After the Seattle win, Las Vegas stood 1.5 games behind second-place Golden State and one game ahead of Atlanta. That left the Aces with a clear goal during the final week: stay in the top four and keep pressure on the Valkyries for the No. 2 seed.
The playoff format is important because the original idea of a double bye does not apply in 2026. Under the WNBA’s official 2026 postseason plan, the top eight teams qualify regardless of conference. All eight begin play in a best-of-three first round. The winners advance to best-of-five semifinals, followed by a best-of-seven WNBA Finals.
The top four seeds receive first-round home-court advantage. That means the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 3, if a third game is needed. There is no free pass to the semifinals. Everybody has to survive Round 1.
For Las Vegas, finishing third or moving into second would secure that opening-round edge. Dropping below fourth would send the Aces on the road to begin the postseason. In a short three-game series, that is no small detail. One rough night can flip the whole bracket.
The Aces have already clinched their playoff berth. The remaining uncertainty involves their seed and opponent. With several teams packed behind the leaders, every result can move the matchup board. September math is ruthless like that.
Three Games Remain on the Schedule
The Aces’ official schedule shows three games remaining, not four. Two are at Michelob ULTRA Arena, followed by the regular-season finale in Phoenix:
- Sunday, Sept. 20: Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces.
- Tuesday, Sept. 22: Los Angeles Sparks at Las Vegas Aces.
- Thursday, Sept. 24: Las Vegas Aces at Phoenix Mercury.
Sunday brings an immediate rematch with Seattle. The setting changes, but the assignment does not. Las Vegas must avoid relaxing after a 37-point road win. The Storm have little to lose, while the Aces have a seed to protect.
Tuesday is the final regular-season home game at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Sparks entered the weekend outside the playoff field, but they can still disrupt the standings. The finale in Phoenix comes against another eliminated team, and it lands on the league’s final day of regular-season play.
On paper, the closing schedule gives Las Vegas a real chance to add wins. None of the three remaining opponents had a winning record entering the weekend. On the court, late-season games against teams playing freely can get weird fast. Vegas knows weird.
Home Court Is the Prize, Not a Bye
The Aces do not control every piece of the race. Golden State’s results will help determine whether Las Vegas can climb into second, while Atlanta remains close enough to threaten third. The safest route is also the obvious one: keep winning and make the other contenders answer.
That starts with the offense that showed up in Seattle. Young attacked early. Wilson controlled the middle. The bench scored. The ball moved. Las Vegas never trailed and did not let a weaker opponent hang around.
There is also a larger postseason standard hanging over this team. The Aces entered 2026 as the defending WNBA champions, and expectations in Las Vegas do not stop at qualification. The city has seen this core win on the biggest stage. A playoff berth is the floor, not the ceiling.
The final standings will lock after the Sept. 24 games, and the playoffs begin Sept. 27. Before then, Las Vegas has two home dates and one short trip to Phoenix to shape its path.
Three games. One tight seeding race. No double bye and no room for a sleepy quarter. September just turned the volume all the way up.
