Las Vegas Aces emerge victorious over Seattle Storm despite standout performance by Dominique Malonga
In a closely contested match, the Seattle Storm faced the Las Vegas Aces, with the Aces holding a two-game winning streak and the Storm on a three-game losing streak. Despite a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, the Storm fell to the Aces 90-86, marking their fourth consecutive loss and their longest losing streak this season.
Rookie center Dominique Malonga was a standout player for the Storm in their loss, showcasing her efficiency and potential as a key contributor off the bench. Malonga, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, averages approximately 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in just over 12 minutes per game with a 53.9% shooting rate.
Malonga's role as the young star of the Storm's second unit reflects a strategic integration into the team's rotation to provide offensive boost and rebounding toughness. In the game against the Aces, Malonga scored a career-high 22 points and had 12 rebounds, achieving her second career double-double.
Las Vegas center A'ja Wilson went 8-for-16 with 18 points in the first half, while Aces guard Jackie Young added 26 points. Seattle forward Gabby Williams and Malonga combined for 17 points in the third quarter, helping the Storm outscore Las Vegas 27-24 in the quarter and narrow their deficit to 71-63.
However, Seattle trailed Las Vegas 47-36 at halftime, with the Aces shooting 60% from beyond the arc in the first half. Seattle improved its shooting in the third quarter, going 46.2% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
All-Star guard Brittney Sykes made her debut for the Storm but struggled to find her rhythm, going 0-for-4 in the first quarter and 1-for-6 by halfway through the second quarter. Forward Ezi Magbegor started the game strongly offensively, scoring 8 points in the first five minutes, including 2 three-pointers.
Erica Wheeler finished with 16 points and two assists, while Seattle forward Breanna Stewart contributed 13 points and five rebounds. Seattle forward Jewell Loyd scored 10 points, marking her 100th career game with double-digit scoring.
The Storm continue their road trip, heading to Los Angeles to face the Sparks on Sunday. Seattle recently battled Los Angeles into two overtime periods on Aug. 1, the league’s first double-overtime game this season. The Storm's comeback attempt failed, losing 108-106 at Climate Pledge Arena.
- The Seattle Storm, a basketball team based in Seattle, faced a tough challenge against the Las Vegas Aces, extending their losing streak to four games.
- Rookie center Dominique Malonga, drafted second overall in the 2025 WNBA draft, showcased her prowess with a career-high 22 points and 12 rebounds in the game against the Aces.
- In the midst of their struggling season, the Storm will face another challenge when they travel to Los Angeles to play against the Sparks, a team they previously played into a double overtime period on Aug 1st.
- Besides basketball, Seattle is also home to other sports teams like the Seahawks (football) and the Mariners (baseball), with the city's climate influencing the outdoor games played by these teams.
