Skylar Diggins looked to give her best during Game 2 of the Skylar Diggins-Las Vegas Aces playoff series. As she revealed, “for us, it was coming out and showing we weren’t scared to play against them”. When the Storm were down 14 points in the 2nd half of the game, it was her and Nneka Ogwumike who led the scoring effort and won. Now, with just 1 win away from the Semi-Finals, Diggins has made it clear that she doesn’t look to back down.

Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike sat together at the press conference that took place after Game 2. During the same, a reporter asked Diggins about her final shot that helped the Storm take an 86-83 lead with 4.2 seconds left on the clock. Diggins was asked if she has always held the caliber to make clutch shots like that, or whether the same came through preparation.

The 35-year-old credited them both and said, “Obviously, it’s not the first time I’ve been in that moment. Um, I’ve been in the playoffs, you know, a few years in my career. I’ve been to the finals before. Um, but also I know that this team has a level of trust in me, too, and that also gives me an air of confidence about myself. Um, how I prepare for these moments. Um, but not being afraid of the moment”.

Through these remarks, Diggins indicated that she did it once and can do it again.

“It’s the playoffs, and so, can’t be afraid to take the shot,” Diggins added. “That, um, I know the ball is in my hands for a reason to play make and, um, you know, I just took my opportunity and I think that was the biggest difference in my game personally between game one and two um was being, uh, relentless, and turning the corner in the paint. Um, engage and making them guard me. Um, just being super aggressive and so. Um, when I have that mindset, you know, like I said I’m not guessing either. I just feel like, you know, nobody can stay in front of me when I have that mindset”.

Skylar Diggins led the scoring effort for the Seattle Storm by recording 26 points, along with 1 rebound and 7 assists. She shot 10-20 field goals, 4-6 3-pointers, and 2-3 free throws. The 26 points made by Diggins were not only her highest score of this postseason, but also her highest score in this entire tournament. It tied with the 26 points she recorded during a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury back on June 7th.

Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike combined for 50 points during a stretch to get the Storm neck-to-neck with the Las Vegas Aces. Even then, the game could have gone in favor of either team in the final seconds had it not been for Diggins isolating Jackie Young and drilling a jumper from just inside the foul line, after a Chelsea Gray turnover, with just 4.2 seconds left on the clock.

Judging from her recent remarks, Skylar Diggins isn’t afraid to show up during clutch moments again. This means that A’ja Wilson will need to be on her guard, since she can’t make the same mistakes as she did in Game 2.

Becky Hammon Highlighted Fatal A’ja Wilson’s Mistake Against Skylar Diggins And Co.

The Las Vegas Aces’ loss brought the team’s 17-game win streak to a close. As basketball reporter Zachary Draves highlighted, a number of factors contributed to the Aces’ demise. While players like Skylar Diggins and Dominique Malonga made a memorable stance on the offense, Aces’ star player A’ja Wilson struggled on her end.

“I just think we’ve got to do a better job of getting [Malonga] in movement instead of just those post isos,” said Aces head coach Becky Hammon when discussing what went wrong for her team. “She’s long, she’s athletic. We’ve got to move her a little bit more. I just thought [A’ja] missed some shots and also she got to the free throw line 11 times. We could have been more efficient with her for sure.”

Thanks to the Storm’s “swarming defense”, A’ja Wilson could only manage to shoot 1/3 from the field in the 4th quarter. Dominique Malonga, a 19-year-old, prevented Wilson from making a shot from inside the paint when the Aces were leading 79-70, forcing her to pass the ball after Malonga wouldn’t let her get closer to the rim, and causing the Aces’ star to miss a shot as less than a minute remained in the game. A shot that could have bagged the game for the Aces.

A’ja Wilson will enter Game 3 looking to get better, while Skylar Diggins will look to replicate her previous performance. Whose efforts will reign supreme in the end is something that remains to be seen.