AP Recap

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 38 points to tie a playoff career high, <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/LVAces/status/1968885139502420165" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Jackie Young had a go-ahead follow shot with 12.4 seconds left</a> and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Seattle Storm 74-73 on Thursday night to secure a spot in the WNBA semifinals.
Wilson, who had 25 points in the second half, had a layup roll off the rim with 25 seconds left and <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/espn/status/1968884610193903826" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Erica Wheeler raced the other way</a> on a 2-on-1 break with Skylar Diggins. Wheeler pulled up in the lane to sink a jumper to give Seattle a 73-72 lead with 18 seconds remaining.
Wilson missed another shot, but Young was there for the putback. After a timeout to get to midcourt, Wheeler had a good look from the free throw line that hit off the back rim and Seattle could not get off another shot before the buzzer.
Las Vegas secured its seventh consecutive semifinal appearance. The second-seeded Aces advance to play on Sunday against No. 6 <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/fever-dream-score-6f4823e740c39c107689b3487377633a" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Indiana, which eliminated Atlanta earlier</a>.
Young finished with 14 points and Chelsea Gray had 12 points and eight assists for Las Vegas. Wilson, who was 14 of 26 from the field and 10 of 11 at the line, scored 30-plus points in a playoff game for the sixth time in her career — tied for the second-most in WNBA history.
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Nneka Ogwumike scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half for Seattle. Wheeler also scored 16 and Diggins added 13.
Diggins made a wide-open 3-pointer from the corner with 1:14 remaining to give Seattle a 71-70 lead, its first since it was 24-23. After a timeout, Wilson made a shot in the lane to regain the lead.
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Game Recap: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces (First Round, Game 3)

First Round Game Recap

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Game Recap: Storm vs. Aces (9/18/25)

First Round Top Plays

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Top Plays of the Day, 9/18/25

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A'ja Wilson with 38 Points vs. Seattle Storm

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Top Plays of the Day, 09/18/2025

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Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm - Game Highlights

Awards

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 – Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson have been named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, the WNBA announced today. This is the first Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for Smith, and the third for Wilson (2022, 2023).
Smith and Wilson received 29 votes each from a national panel of 72 sportswriters and broadcasters. Seattle Storm guard Gabby Williams finished in second place with nine votes, Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was third with three votes, and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier was fourth with two votes.
This marks the first time in league history that the award has been shared by multiple players.
Smith, in her seventh WNBA season, started all 42 games she appeared in for Minnesota and averaged 26.6 minutes per game. A 2024 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team selection, Smith was instrumental in leading the Lynx to the No. 1 seed in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
Anchoring the league’s top-ranked defense, Smith powered Minnesota to a league-best 97.5 defensive rating. She finished second overall in combined steals and blocks (135), ranked third in both blocks per game (1.9) and total blocks (80), and tied for 10th in total steals (55).
Drafted eighth overall in 2019, Smith has developed into a defensive cornerstone for the Lynx, helping lead the team to the semifinals following a 2-0 series victory against the Golden State Valkyries in the first round.
Wilson, in her eighth season, started all 40 games she appeared in for Las Vegas while averaging 31.2 minutes per game. She helped the Aces secure the No. 2 seed in the WNBA Playoffs following a 16-game win streak to close the regular season. A three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, Wilson now adds a third Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award to her decorated trophy case.
Wilson led the WNBA in blocks per game (2.3), total rebounds (407), defensive rebounds (316), and combined steals and blocks (156). She also ranked second in total blocks (92) and rebounds per game (10.2). Demonstrating her all-around defensive impact, Wilson ranked third in total steals (64) and fourth in steals per game (1.6).
Already one of the most dominant two-way players in league history, Wilson also delivered on the offensive end in 2025, leading the WNBA in total points (937), points per game (23.4), field goals made (332), and free throws made (248).
Behind the efforts of Smith and Wilson, Minnesota and Las Vegas have earned the top two seeds in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google.
In honor of being named the 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year, Smith and Wilson will each receive $5,150 and a trophy designed to commemorate the achievement.
Below are the voting results for the 2025 Kia WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and a list of past recipients.
2025 KIA WNBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTING RESULTS
<table style="border-collapse: collapse;width: 100%;height: 144px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Player</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Team</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Votes</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Alanna Smith</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">A’ja Wilson</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Las Vegas Aces</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">29</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Gabby Williams</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Seattle Storm</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">9</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Alyssa Thomas</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Phoenix Mercury</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">3</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Napheesa Collier</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">Minnesota Lynx</td>
<td style="width: 33.3333%;height: 24px">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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KIA WNBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1997 – Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
1998 – Teresa Weatherspoon, New York
1999 – Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento
2000 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2001 – Debbie Black, Miami
2002 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2003 – Sheryl Swoopes, Houston
2004 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2005 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2006 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2007 – Lauren Jackson, Seattle
2008 – Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles
2009 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2010 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2011 – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
2012 – Tamika Catchings, Indiana
2013 – Sylvia Fowles, Chicago
2014 – Brittney Griner, Phoenix
2015 – Brittney Griner, Phoenix
2016 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2017 – Alana Beard, Los Angeles
2018 – Alana Beard, Los Angeles
2019 – Natasha Howard, Seattle
2020 – Candace Parker, Los Angeles
2021 – Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota
2022 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2023 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas
2024 – Napheesa Collier, Minnesota
2025 – Alanna Smith, Minnesota (Co-Winner)
2025 – A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas (Co-Winner)
&nbsp;
About Kia America
Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the &#8220;Official Automotive Partner&#8221; of the WNBA and NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles sold through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. 
For media information, including photography, visit <a href="http://www.kiamedia.com">www.kiamedia.com</a>. To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert__;!!PMETyfE!LQ_AWgu_xS8m2ZdpIVOeFIM6CjzB7GXan16p-xQBBSMFDqSqBaxovepbT109Px9yCDy8QlykRUjGqeA$">www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert</a> 
* Select trims of the 2025 all-electric EV6 and EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV and PHEV models), Sorento (excludes HEV and PHEV models), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

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Minnesota Lynx's Alanna Smith and Las Vegas Aces’ A'ja Wilson Named 2025 Kia WNBA Co-Defensive Players of the Year

SEATTLE (AP) — Skylar Diggins scored 26 points, <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/WNBA/status/1968159141480038799" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">including a jumper in the lane with 4.2 seconds left</a>, Nneka Ogwumike had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Seattle Storm forced a deciding Game 3 with an 86-83 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday night.
Seattle won its first playoff game since 2022. The Storm will play at Las Vegas on Thursday for a spot in the WNBA semifinals.
Las Vegas had closed the season on a 16-game winning streak, before winning <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/storm-aces-score-353ae7c6fa564e01b909fe0a268aa271" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Game 1 on Sunday</a>.
The Storm trailed 79-70 before closing on a 16-4 run.
Dominique Malonga was fouled while making a layup in transition with 31 seconds left and she made the free throw to give Seattle its first lead, 84-83, since it was 37-36. Chelsea Gray had a turnover at the other end trying to find Jackie Young in the lane.
Ogwumike took an inbounds pass with 27.7 seconds left and held the ball near midcourt until giving it to Diggins with about 14 to go. Diggins drove into the lane and sank a shot near the free-throw line for a three-point lead.
Las Vegas had a chance to tie it at the buzzer but Jewell Loyd’s 3-pointer hit off the right side of the rim.
Malonga finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Erica Wheeler also scored 11 for Seattle.
Young led Las Vegas with 25 points. A’ja Wilson had 21 points and 13 rebounds for <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/ESPNInsights/status/1968152679244243219" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">her 22nd playoff double-double.</a>
Ogwumike scored 11 points in the first quarter, Diggins added 15 points in the second and Seattle was within 45-44 at the break after closing on a 7-0 run. <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://x.com/WNBA/status/1968140563984912522" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">Diggins sank a 3-pointer with 51.4 seconds left</a> following her steal, and she added two free throws at 32.3.
Diggins had just 12 points in Seattle’s loss on Sunday in the series opener, and Ogwumike had 11.

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Game Recap: Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm (First Round, Game 2)

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Game Recap: Aces vs. Storm (9/16/25)

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A'ja Wilson with 21 Points vs. Seattle Storm

Latest

A'ja Wilson

Career Highlights
<ul>
<li>2023 &amp; 2022 WNBA Champion</li>
<li>2024, 2022 &amp; 2020 WNBA M’VP</li>
<li>2023 WNBA Finals M’VP</li>
<li>2023 &amp; 2022 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year</li>
<li>2024, 2023, 2022 &amp; 2020 All-WNBA First Team</li>
<li>2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019 &amp; 2018 WNBA All-Star</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://aces.wnba.com/aja-wilson-bio/">Click here for more on A’ja Wilson, including season-by-season, international, college and personal notes.</a>