The second weekend of the 2025 WNBA season wraps up with a marquee Western Conference showdown on Sunday evening, as the Las Vegas Aces head to Climate Pledge Arena to take on the Seattle Storm. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET, with both teams entering the contest at 2-1 and looking to gain early traction in the standings. Las Vegas enters fresh off a narrow 75-72 win over Washington, secured by a clutch three-pointer from Jewell Loyd — who now prepares to face her former team. Loyd and the Aces go up against a Storm squad that just leaned on Skylar Diggins’ vintage 24-point, 14-assist performance to edge Phoenix 77-70. With stars on both sides and Las Vegas installed as slight favorites, Sunday’s matchup promises to be one of the season’s early highlights.
Aces vs. Storm Breakdown
Three games into the new season, the defending champion Aces already resemble the powerhouse that captured two of the last three WNBA titles. A’ja Wilson is leading the charge once again, averaging 22.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. With Kelsey Plum no longer in the fold, Jackie Young has emerged as a perimeter threat, contributing 19.0 points per contest despite some inconsistency from the floor.
Loyd, still adjusting to her new role in Las Vegas, is averaging 11.3 points so far but showed her value in Friday’s clutch win. The Aces are outscoring opponents by a margin of +4.7, scoring 80.0 points per game while allowing 75.3. Their lone loss came in the opener against the reigning champion New York Liberty.
Seattle, meanwhile, is off to a strong start behind the resurgence of Skylar Diggins. The veteran guard looks reinvigorated, averaging 22.0 points and dishing out a league-leading 9.0 assists per game. Nneka Ogwumike has also made an immediate impact, posting 19.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game to form a potent inside-out combo with Diggins. Although frontcourt anchor Ezi Magbegor is still working to find her offensive rhythm (5.0 points per game), her defense remains elite — especially her ability to guard the paint and switch onto wings, which will be key in slowing down Wilson.
The Storm are averaging 71.7 points on offense and conceding 74.0 per game. Their win over Phoenix on Friday marked the first time they cracked the 75-point barrier this season.
Injury Updates
Both teams enter Sunday with relatively clean injury reports. Las Vegas remains without reserve forward Megan Gustafson (leg) and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (pregnancy), tightening their frontcourt rotation. Seattle, meanwhile, is without forward Katie Lou Samuelson for the season due to an ACL injury. Depth may become a factor as both teams lean heavily on their top six players, with the Aces particularly reliant on Dana Evans and young posts to relieve Wilson.
Betting Trends and Matchup Notes
– Spread: Las Vegas -4.5
– Moneyline: Aces -190, Storm +154
– Over/Under: 162.5
Recent Betting Form:
– Las Vegas is 1-2 against the spread (ATS), failing to cover in Friday’s win over Washington.
– Seattle has covered the spread in two straight games since their opening loss to Phoenix.
Scoring Trends:
– Combined average points per game for both squads sits at just 151.7 — over 10 points below the posted total.
Key Matchups:
– In the paint: A’ja Wilson’s physicality vs. Ezi Magbegor’s length and mobility. Wilson has scored 20+ in two of the Aces’ three games.
– On the perimeter: Diggins’ elite pick-and-roll play vs. Jackie Young’s defense. Diggins has directly assisted on 47 points through three games.
Prediction: What to Expect
Despite some roster turnover, Las Vegas still holds the edge in late-game execution, with Wilson providing a dependable scoring option down the stretch. Loyd’s integration remains a work in progress, but the Aces still outmatch most teams with their core trio.
The Storm, however, are gaining momentum. With Diggins showing flashes of her All-Star form and Ogwumike providing consistent production inside, Seattle has found ways to compete even while their offense works through early-season kinks. Add in the defensive versatility of Magbegor and the contributions of supporting players like Gabby Williams, and the Storm have enough tools to keep things close at home.
The betting line has drifted slightly in the Aces’
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