Las Vegas Aces vs Seattle Storm Picks and Prediction for Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Las Vegas Aces visit the Seattle Storm on Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, with the start of the game scheduled for 10:00 PM ET and televised on USA Network. This is the first game back for both teams following the Women’s FIBA World Cup, won by the United States, and each team has four regular-season games remaining. The eight postseason teams have already been determined, leaving playoff seeding as the focus. Las Vegas is 27-13 and third overall, two games behind second-place Golden State. Seattle is 8-32, 15th overall, and eliminated from postseason contention. The Aces beat Toronto 93-73 before the break, while Seattle lost 90-74 to Los Angeles. Build your bankroll with our free WNBA picks.

Las Vegas Aces Riding a Three-Game Winning Streak

Las Vegas won three straight before the break and went 6-4 over its last 10 games. The Aces average 90.6 points while allowing 86.5, producing a positive scoring differential of 4.1 points. Las Vegas shoots 48.2% from the field and 35.5% from three while averaging 33.6 rebounds and 21.8 assists. A'ja Wilson leads the offense with 26.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting 52.3% from the field.

Jackie Young adds 18.9 points, 6.6 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 48.3% from the field and 38.7% from three. Chelsea Gray averages 12.0 points and a team-high 6.8 assists, while NaLyssa Smith contributes 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. Las Vegas commits only 12.0 turnovers per game and averages 4.9 blocks. The Aces also won the first meeting with Seattle 101-91, scoring enough to overcome a 10-point spread in that matchup.

Injuries: NaLyssa Smith (out).

Seattle Storm Trying to Recover After a Rough Stretch

Seattle returns with an 8-32 record after going 2-8 over its last 10 games. The Storm lost four of their final five before the break, with the lone victory coming 90-78 against Toronto. Seattle averages 82.9 points while allowing 88.2 and shoots 42.5% from the field and 31.9% from three. The Storm average 34.1 rebounds and 19.2 assists, but their 14.1 turnovers per game have made consistent offensive production difficult.

Dominique Malonga leads Seattle with 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while shooting 48.2% from the field. Flau'jae Johnson adds 14.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Jade Melbourne averages 9.5 points and 3.9 assists but is unavailable for this matchup. Seattle will also be without Natisha Hiedeman, who averages 15.4 points and a team-high 4.8 assists. The Storm allow opponents to collect 36.4 rebounds per game compared with their own 34.1.

Injuries: Awa Fam (out), Jade Melbourne (out), Katie Lou Samuelson (out), Ezi Magbegor (out), Natisha Hiedeman (out).

Las Vegas Aces vs Seattle Storm Key Player Matchup

A'ja Wilson and Dominique Malonga lead their respective teams in both scoring and rebounding. Wilson averages 26.0 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 52.3% from the field, along with 2.0 blocks per game. Malonga averages 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 48.2%. Seattle needs Malonga to stay productive inside with several rotation players unavailable. Wilson has the larger scoring role and anchors a Las Vegas offense averaging 90.6 points, making the interior battle a major part of this matchup.

Las Vegas Aces vs Seattle Storm Game Pick

• Las Vegas Aces -9.5 (-110)

Las Vegas -9.5 is the pick after the Aces closed the pre-World Cup portion of the schedule with three consecutive victories. Las Vegas owns a 90.6 scoring average and shoots 48.2%, while Seattle averages 82.9 points on 42.6% shooting. The Storm are also missing Hiedeman, Melbourne, Magbegor, and other rotation options. Wilson and Young provide Las Vegas with two high-level scorers, and Gray directs the offense with 6.8 assists per game. The Aces have enough advantages to cover on the road.

Las Vegas Aces vs Seattle Storm Over/Under Pick

• Under 173.5 (-110)

Under 173.5 is the pick with Seattle missing several important offensive options in its first game after the extended break. The Storm average 82.9 points and scored 74, 90, 70, 80 and 82 across their final five games before the pause. Las Vegas can score at a high rate, but Seattle’s depleted rotation may struggle to produce the offensive total needed for a game above 173.5. The Aces can build a comfortable advantage without the teams combining for 174 points, making under the stronger play.