The top-seeded Las Vegas Aces let a close one slip away at home Sunday vs. the Seattle Storm, who stole Game 1 with a 76-73 triumph in their best-of-five semifinal series.
But first-year Aces coach and newly minted WNBA Coach of the Year Becky Hammon was quick to find the bright side. “The good news is there’s some things that we can correct,” Hammon told media following the loss. “Obviously, we didn’t shoot the ball well tonight.
It comes down to, sometimes, just making shots at the end of the game.” Aces All-Star guard Kelsey Plum, who scored 20 points for the seventh time in her last eight playoff games, went 8-for-23 (2-of-10 from the three) on the night but missed two game-tying three-pointers at the end of a tug-o-war fourth quarter, including a 25-footer with 2.9 seconds left.
Leading the way for Las Vegas was fellow guard Chelsea Gray, who scored a team-high 21 points, one rebound, five assists and two steals in 35 minutes.