Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates after blocking a Chicago Sky shot during the second half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball playoffs at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Wed Sep 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It all begins tonight as the Las Vegas Aces (34-6) take on the Chicago Sky (18-22) in the first game of their first round matchup. It has been a record setting year for the Aces being the first team to reach 30 games in a season finishing with a 34-6 record. The Aces took care of business in game 1 with a convincing 87-59 win to go up 1-0 in the best of three series on Wednesday night.

Las Vegas led the WNBA in offensive and defensive efficiency. They have an amazing starting roster with four players scoring 15 plus points per game. A’Ja Wilson leads the pack with 22.9, Kelsey Plum with 18.7, Jackie Young 17.6 and Chelsea Gray with 15.3.

That is about as solid a roster that you will find anywhere in the WNBA. They had eleven game with 100 plus points which is the most in WNBA history. This team has all the accolades but what they are aiming for right now is a second title.

Without that second title none of these really matter. This is just the start and there is a long road ahead of them but they are primed and ready for the challenge.

The Aces got a nice start and had built a 27-15 lead as the first quarter came to an end. The Sky got into some foul trouble in the opening quarter with Alanna Smith already committing three. Going into the second quarter, Chicago had missed their last eight shots.

Every time the Sky made the slightest of rallies, the Aces had the answer as they continued to extend their lead. Chicago could not keep up with the high-powered Aces and at the half Las Vegas had a 53-36 lead. The Aces had won the quarter 26-21 a much closer quarter than the opener.

Las Vegas kept the pressure on containing the Sky offensively and defensively continuing to extend their lead and after three quarters led 70-46. Wilson, Gray, Plum and Young all had double digits and Kiah Stokes who always contributes defensively had ten rebounds.

Las Vegas continued to dominate the paint. Kahleah Copper was the only Chicago player with double digits through three quarters.

With 7:46 left in the game Coach Becky Hammon began to bench starting players, A’Ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum were the first to get a breather. At 5:44 left on the clock the Aces had built a 30 point lead 80-50. The Aces won the fourth quarter, in fact, they won all four quarters of this game. The final was 87-59 in favor of the defending champions.

Chicago would finish with only player, Kahleah Copper, in double digits. The Aces had four players in double digits and bench player Alysha Clark had a huge game with 13 points and four rebounds.

Chelsea Gray had the high points for Las Vegas with 20 points. Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and A’Ja Wilson all had a double digit game and Kiah Stokes had 14 rebounds. The Aces dominated this game from start to finish.

The two teams will get a few days off before going into game two of this series. That second game will again be played in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for Sunday 9/17 at 12:00 PM. A win in Sunday’s game will win the series for the Aces and entry into the second round of the playoffs.