Photo credit: @WNBA

By: Ana Kieu

The Las Vegas Aces were looking to win two in a row with a victory over the Chicago Sky at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Friday night. The Aces last defeated the Dallas Wings 75-70 at College Park Center last Saturday.

The Aces’ starting lineup featured Kelsey Plum, Kayla McBride, Liz Cambage, Dearica Hamby, and Jackie Young. The Aces were without A’ja Wilson, who is out with a left ankle sprain. Wilson collapsed to the floor after colliding with Cambage in the Aces’ game against the Seattle Storm at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on July 19th.

The Sky opened up the first quarter by scoring a handful of points. Stefanie Dolson hit plenty of three-pointers throughout the first. Dolson got past a few Aces defenders and hit a noteworthy three with 4:06 left in the first.

The Sky’s “uh oh” moment occurred with 1:09 left in the first. Gabby Williams made a long rebound to Diamond DeShields. DeShields knocked down the jumper to make it 24-10.

The Sky led 27-14 at the end of the first.

The Aces bounced back and outscored the Sky 27-21 in the second quarter. Sugar Rodgers provided a tremendous screen and knocked down a step-back jumper with 8:08 left in the second. Rodgers also delivered a sweet bounce that led to a three, pulling the Aces within seven, 31-24, with 6:35 left in the second.

The Aces trailed by seven, 48-41, at the end of the first half.

Aces rookie Jackie Young made a statement with a strong move that resulted in a two-point field goal, and as a result, the Aces trailed by two, 52-50, with 8:23 left in the third quarter.

McBride passed the ball to Cambage late in the fourth quarter. Cambage knocked it down for two. The Aces maintained a close game throughout the fourth, but they were unable to force overtime at the very least. Still, Young drained a clutch bucket to make it a one-point game with 2:10 left in the fourth.

The Aces (15-9) lost to the Sky (14-9) by a final of 87-84.

The Aces host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, August 11 at 3:00 p.m.