On a day that should have been filled with celebration, A'ja Wilson, star of the Las Vegas Aces, found herself facing a first-half performance she'd probably rather forget. The reigning and unanimous WNBA MVP, Wilson had a dismal opening in Game 1 of the Aces’ best-of-three first-round playoff series against the Seattle Storm. She managed just four points, hitting only one of eight shots from the field. But, as sports often teaches us, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Wilson turned her night around in the second half, reminding everyone why she is now a three-time MVP. A performance that began as frustrating transformed into a commanding display as she finished the game with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and an impressive 5 blocks. Alongside Wilson’s resurgence, the Aces received a crucial spark off the bench from veteran guard Tiffany Hayes, which helped Las Vegas pull away from the Storm, ultimately securing a 78-67 victory.
It wasn’t just any regular game for A'ja Wilson. Earlier that day, she had been moved to tears while watching a heartfelt video tribute featuring three-time MVP legends Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Lauren Jackson. All three are Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers, and their words of praise carried extra weight. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was on hand to present Wilson with her third MVP trophy at Michelob Ultra Arena. This moment was particularly special because Wilson had come up short in the MVP race last season, finishing third in what was one of the tightest votes in recent memory. This time, Wilson left no doubt, setting WNBA history by finishing the season with a 26.9 points per game average — the highest ever — and becoming the first player to score over 1,000 points in a single season. Talk about making a statement.
However, Wilson’s path to domination on Sunday wasn’t easy. The Seattle Storm, despite missing a key player in forward/center Ezi Magbegor due to a concussion, managed to stifle her early on. Las Vegas struggled collectively in the first quarter, shooting a woeful 2-of-18 from the field and trailing Seattle 18-9 after the first 10 minutes. Things were looking bleak for the two-time defending champions, but that’s when Tiffany Hayes took matters into her own hands.
Hayes, who had a significant emotional moment of her own, came alive in the second quarter. Her story adds a sentimental layer to the Aces' victory. Hayes’ mother, Dorothy "Jenny" Hayes, flew in from Florida to watch her daughter play. What makes this even more special is that it was Jenny's first time ever on a plane. Throughout Tiffany’s college career at UConn, her mother had lived close by in Connecticut to support her, but she never flew. Even during Tiffany's 10 WNBA seasons with the Atlanta Dream, her mother would drive instead of flying. Overcoming her fear, Jenny Hayes made the journey to Las Vegas for Tiffany’s birthday and the start of the playoffs.
Hayes, who turned 35 on Friday, shared, "I want to shout out my mom. She was my coach all throughout growing up. She had never flown before, and she flew out here. I'm glad she was able to come." That emotional lift seemed to translate directly onto the court, as Hayes erupted for 12 points in the second quarter alone, keeping the Aces within striking distance. She finished the game with 20 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting from the field.
Her impact can't be overstated. Although Hayes has been a starter for most of her WNBA career, she has come off the bench in all but five games this season for the Aces, making a strong case for the Sixth Player of the Year award. For a team loaded with talent, Hayes provides the X-factor spark that can shift the course of a game, especially when the usual suspects like Wilson are struggling early. Wilson herself acknowledged Hayes' importance, stating, "She gets us going. Her energy is there always. That’s our game changer. She's really one of our X factors."
As for the MVP herself, even during that rough first half, her defense remained impeccable, and she simply refused to let her poor shooting dictate the outcome of her game. By the third quarter, Wilson was unstoppable, scoring 15 points — the most she has ever scored in a quarter during the playoffs. In the fourth quarter, her defense led the way again, as the Aces held the Storm to just two points, securing their Game 1 victory.
Seattle coach Noelle Quinn summed up the performance perfectly: "The MVP MVP'd," she said. "She's MVP for a reason."
There was a sense of poetic justice in Wilson’s resurgence. Reflecting on her rough start, she shared, "The basketball gods have a funny way of showing me that sometimes you've just got to get out of the mud. I love doing that, because it keeps my mind going. My teammates continue to never let me doubt myself. And I sometimes do ... and they always pick me up."
The camaraderie on this Aces team is evident, and it’s part of what makes them such a dominant force in the league. Wilson’s connection with her teammates allows her to shake off the self-doubt and take over games in critical moments. "In the second half, the game kind of settled down for me and I really started to dissect the defense," she added. "That was kind of when I got rocking and rolling."
With Game 2 of the series approaching, the Aces are in a strong position. Having weathered Seattle’s best defensive effort and seen their MVP return to form, they’ll be looking to close out the series on Tuesday. The Aces are determined to defend their title and add another championship to their impressive resume. For Hayes, this season presents a golden opportunity to win the elusive WNBA title she’s been chasing for over a decade. "She’s been a part of two NCAA championship teams at UConn, but this is the one title that’s eluded her," Wilson pointed out. "We’re all playing for each other."
Tiffany Hayes’ journey from retirement back into the league, the emotional lift of having her mother in the crowd, and A'ja Wilson’s dominance make this playoff run even more thrilling to watch. The Aces, with their championship pedigree, are showing why they’re the team to beat. If Wilson and Hayes continue to perform at this level, there’s no doubt Las Vegas could be celebrating another WNBA title soon.
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