Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm: Match Preview, Team News & Predictions

Updated September 18, 2026: The Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm meet again on Sunday, September 20, at 9:00 p.m. ET at Michelob ULTRA Arena. This is a quick rematch after Las Vegas won 114–77 in Seattle on September 17. The Aces have the clearer form and rest advantage, while Seattle must respond after a difficult opening game and then travel again after playing Golden State on September 19.

Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm: Quick game guide

The official WNBA game page lists the September 20 tipoff at 9:00 p.m. ET. The schedule is also consistent with the Seattle Storm’s official 2026 regular-season schedule. Because the teams played on September 17, the first game is the strongest current evidence for how this rematch may be approached—but it is not a guarantee that the score or shooting efficiency will repeat.

What happened in the first meeting?

Las Vegas controlled the September 17 game from start to finish in Seattle, winning 114–77. The Aces’ official game report and photo gallery lists Las Vegas at 28–13 and Seattle at 8–33 after the result. Jackie Young scored a career-high 34 points, while A’ja Wilson added 29 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Kalani Brown and Dana Evans each contributed 10 points off the bench.

That margin matters for the preview because it identifies several pressure points. Seattle was not simply beaten by one late run; it faced a large deficit against a Las Vegas offense that received production from its two central stars and its reserve unit. The Storm’s best response will need to be more than making a few extra shots. They must reduce clean looks for Wilson, keep Young from creating downhill advantages, and avoid allowing the Aces’ second unit to extend the game.

Team news and availability

This table is limited to injuries and absences that were publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed. A final WNBA injury report or late lineup decision can change availability, so readers checking fantasy lineups or betting markets should verify the official status close to tipoff.

Which team has the practical edge?

1. Rest and travel

The schedule creates a meaningful difference. Las Vegas plays at home on September 20 after the September 17 game in Seattle. Seattle, by contrast, plays at Golden State on September 19 and then travels to Las Vegas for the rematch the following day. A back-to-back road sequence does not decide a game by itself, but it can affect defensive communication, late closeouts, shooting legs, and the ability to respond when the opponent changes pace.

2. A’ja Wilson against Seattle’s interior coverage

Wilson’s 29-point, seven-rebound performance in the first meeting is the clearest matchup headline. Seattle can send earlier help, shade toward the paint, or force other Aces to make more perimeter decisions. Each choice carries a cost: aggressive help can open kick-out threes, while single coverage gives Wilson room to score or draw fouls. Without Magbegor available, the Storm’s collective rebounding and rotation discipline become especially important.

3. Jackie Young’s creation and transition pressure

Young’s 34 points showed how quickly the Aces can punish a defense that loses the ball or allows the first defender to be beaten. Seattle should value possessions, get back after misses, and make Young work through a set defense. If she again reaches the paint early and often, Las Vegas can force help and create easier shots for Wilson, Brown, or its guards.

4. Seattle’s path to a competitive game

The Storm do not need to duplicate the Aces’ offensive output to improve. A more realistic target is to keep the game within one or two possessions entering the fourth quarter. That requires three visible changes: fewer live-ball turnovers, stronger defensive rebounding, and enough perimeter efficiency to prevent Las Vegas from loading up on Wilson. Seattle’s ball movement also needs to produce shots before the Aces’ defense is fully set.

What should fans watch for?

• Opening five minutes: Does Seattle attack the paint with purpose, or does Las Vegas immediately dictate the matchup through Wilson?
• Rebounding margin: Can the Storm finish possessions without giving the Aces second chances?
• Turnovers leading to transition: Live-ball mistakes are especially costly against a team that can turn defense into quick offense.
• Brown’s role: After scoring 10 off the bench in the first meeting, can Brown stabilize the Aces’ interior minutes while Smith remains unavailable?
• Fourth-quarter competitiveness: Seattle’s progress should be measured by execution late, not only by whether it improves its first-quarter score.

Prediction: Aces favored, but the margin is the main question

Las Vegas is the logical favorite based on the available evidence: it owns the stronger record, just won the first meeting by 37 points, has home court, and avoids the immediate back-to-back travel burden facing Seattle. The Aces also have the clearest individual matchup advantage in Wilson, while Young enters the rematch after a career scoring night.

My practical forecast is Las Vegas 96, Seattle 82, with a likely winning margin in the 12–18-point range. That prediction assumes the Aces maintain their normal rotation and that no late availability news changes the matchup. The forecast is not a claim that the first game’s 114-point total will repeat; shooting variance, lineup adjustments, and the pace of the rematch can move the result substantially.

Seattle’s upset route is clear but demanding: limit transition, force the ball away from Wilson’s preferred spots, create efficient offense without excessive isolation, and stay connected through the second half. If those signs appear early, the Storm can make the rematch more competitive than the first game. If Las Vegas again wins the turnover and rebounding battles, the Aces should control the night.

Bottom line

The September 20 Las Vegas Aces–Seattle Storm game is a short-turnaround rematch shaped by a 114–77 Aces win, major frontcourt absences on both teams, and Seattle’s difficult travel sequence. The most useful checklist is simple: confirm final availability, watch Seattle’s defensive rebounding and transition defense, and track whether Wilson and Young are creating the same advantages as they did on September 17. On the verified information available as of September 18, Las Vegas has the stronger case to win, while Seattle’s best realistic objective is to keep the game competitive deep into the fourth quarter.