On Saturday at Michelob Ultra Arena, the anticipation for Game 1 of the Aces’ best-of-three first-round WNBA playoff series set to tip off Sunday against the Seattle Storm was palpable.

The stage was nearly set. The No. 2-seeded Aces had just left the court following a closed practice, and every seat in the building was covered by a white shirt emblazoned with the slogan “Raise the stakes.”

Members of the setup crew scrambled to place final touches, including one who teetered alone atop a giant ladder to secure an above-the-rim video camera, and leave before Storm coach Noelle Quinn and her players trickled into view.

“It’s not just one thing,” Quinn said when asked what would be key as the No.7 seed opening the postseason against the Aces. “The top of the scout is A’ja (Wilson), obviou

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