As the playoffs begin after a historic regular season, one matchup has entered a new stage in their long-standing rivalry. The Las Vegas Aces will face the Seattle Storm in the first round, with the home-court advantage belonging to the Aces. As the season series ended with Las Vegas winning three games to one, Seattle will look to put the past behind them. It will take a valiant effort for the Storm to dethrone the champs, as they enter Sin City for another crack at a championship run themselves.

The Seattle Storm entered the postseason after a 25-15 record after not participating last season. Star forward Nneka Ogwumike (NEH-kuh OH-gwoo-muh-kay) has been a massive two-way piece, averaging 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game this year. Jewell Loyd has also been a star for the team, averaging 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. One x-factor for this team will be the loss of star center Ezi Magbegor, (Eh-Zee Mag-Beh-Gore) who will be out the first game with a concussion. It remains to be seen if she will miss multiple games in this series, but her impact will be missed. With Magbegor out, players like Mercedes Russell (3.9 PPG), and Joyner Holmes (2.9 PPG) must step up on both ends. However, the role players could decide the series for the Storm. Gabby Williams was the latest addition to this team, and she has vastly impacted them in the last part of the season. She averaged 10.3 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in only 12 games with the team. Her versatility and ability to defend four positions (sometimes five) will come into play against Las Vegas. Seattle’s defensive aggressiveness could be the thing that gives them the edge. They lead the league in steals per game, averaging 9.3 in the regular season. If the Storm pressures the Aces and forces turnovers, they have the offensive weapons to turn them into easy points. One of those weapons is Skylar Diggins-Smith, who has stepped it up in the scoring department. After the All-Star break, she averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 assists, and two steals per game which has helped Seattle tremendously. The Achilles heel for the Storm is their scoring droughts in the second half, particularly their response to them. In their previous game against the Aces, they kept the game close through three quarters. However, in the fourth, they were outscored 22-11, including only four points in seven minutes. Typically teams have games where shots aren’t falling, but the great ones hide the problem with their defense. Against Las Vegas, the Storm need to tighten their defense especially when their shots aren’t falling. Seattle is a tough opponent for anyone in the first round, but the Aces look ready to defend their crown.

The Las Vegas Aces have struggled to start the year, but they are playing their best basketball at the right time. They finished with a record of 27-13, and are a threat to beat any team in the playoffs. The Aces are led by A’ja Wilson, who was recently awarded her third MVP after raising her game to another level. She became the second MVP in league history to win by a unanimous vote, joining Cynthia Cooper, who did it in 1997. Wilson averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game in the regular season, and will most likely step it up in the playoffs. Her presence will be a lot to handle for the Storm, but the others around her could help Las Vegas advance. Chelsea Gray tends to be Seattle’s kryptonite in the postseason. She averaged 8.6 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, but she is coming off her torn Achilles suffered last season. Ever since she returned from her injury, Gray has integrated herself back into the rotation and could cause a lot of problems for her opponent(s). Jackie Young has stepped into a massive role this season, and her impact will be felt in this series. She averaged 15.8 points, 5.3 assists, and one steal per game, showing her fingerprints are everywhere. One player who could get hot in this series for the Aces is Kelsey Plum. She averaged 17.8 points, 4.2 assists, and shot 36.8% from beyond three-point land. Her hot shooting could be a problem for Seattle, especially down the stretch in games. Las Vegas does have a short rotation, which could tire them out down the stretch if they were to make a run. However, the Storm plays with a similar rotation which makes this matchup that much more even. With many entertaining matchups and a handful of storylines in the playoffs, Seattle facing Las Vegas is no exception. As both teams will do whatever it takes to gain the edge, it will be important for everyone to step up in ‘win now’ mode.

The Aces and Storm have faced each other in their last three playoff runs, with their latest meeting occurring in 2022. That series ended in one game, but times have changed in these playoffs. The first round is a best two out of three games, with the first two happening in Las Vegas. If game three is forced, it will be played in Seattle for a ‘winner take all’ game. With the Aces hoping to win their third title in a row, they are set to face a Storm team with different plans in mind.

Game One tips off In Las Vegas on 9/22 at 7 PM PST on ESPN.