The Las Vegas Aces Sugar Rogers (right) snuffs the Los Angeles Sparks Chelsea Gray as the Aces pick up their fifth straight game victory in the first half in Bradenton Fl on Sat Sep 12, 2020 WNBA game (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Sports Radio Service

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Las Vegas used its defensive strength to overtake Los Angeles 84-70 Saturday in Bradenton, Fla., clinching a top-two seeding in the WNBA West and a double-bye into the playoff semifinals.

The Aces will face the Seattle Storm at noon on Sunday. The winner gets the No. 1 seed in the West.

After the Aces’ 15-point third quarter lead was cut to four, Las Vegas allowed 10 points by the Sparks in the fourth quarter.

Angel McCoughtry led the Aces with 18 points. Her 3-pointer and three-point play helped Las Vegas rebuild its lead in the final seven minutes. Kayla McBride, who was next on the Aces scoring list, sank a 3 with 1:25 remaining to put the game away.

The Aces’ bench combined for 20 points from Dearica Hamby, Jackie Young and Danielle Robinson. Point guard Lindsay Allen and center Carolyn Swords contributed five points each.

Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles with 24 points, followed by Candace Parker with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Chelsea Gray had 10 points and 11 assists for the Sparks, but was held to 2 of 13 from the field.

While Ogwumnike and Parker combined for 43 points on 18 of 31 shooting, Las Vegas held the rest of the Sparks to a combined 9 of 41 shooting.

The Sparks will be the No. 3 seed, opening with a one-game second round playoff on Thursday.

The WNBA semifinals begin on Sept. 20.