Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) is fired up after hitting a basket that tied up the game and forced overtime against the Chicago Sky at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Jul 3, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces (15-5) got off to a great start in their matchup with the Chicago Sky (6-14) leading after one quarter 22-19. The Aces really cranked it up in the second quarter outscoring the Sky 27-18 and leading at the half 49-37.

While the Aces held the lead at the half, they were outscored in the third and fourth quarters, in fact, they tied up the game in the final seconds of the fourth quarter to go into overtime. It was a wild overtime but it was the Aces who broke through coming away with the win 98-90.

Despite A’Ja Wilson watching the game from the sidelines with a right ankle/leg injury her teammates held their own. WIlson had initially been listed as questionable but ruled out at game time.

This was her second consecutive missed game after sitting out the Commissioner’s Cup this week. Friday night the team had to rely on Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray to generate offense and they really came through as did Nalyssa Smith in a monumental way finishing with the game high of 29 points and 8 rebounds. She was terrific. Gray, Young and Jewell Loyd all turned in double digits in this game.

GAME RECAP

The Las Vegas Aces outscored the Chicago Sky in the first quarter of their matchup at T-Mobile Arena 22-19. They would be focused on extending that lead throughout the second quarter.

The Aces again outscored the Sky in the second quarter this time by a larger margin 27-18 taking a 49-37 lead into the locker room at the half. They would need more of the same in the second half, keeping the pressure on the Sky.

It got a bit shaky in the third quarter when the Sky answered back outscoring the Aces 27-21. Las Vegas was hanging onto a 70-64 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Sky was taking away the paint and limiting offensive chances for the Aces and they desperately needed to turn that around.

The fourth quarter was a challenging one for Las Vegas. The Sky not only tied up the game but took the lead with 3:47 left in the game 82-81. Chicago took as much as a three point lead in the final minutes of the game. The Aces were able to tie up this game in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at 86 but unable to take back the lead. This game went into overtime.

With 2.38 left in the overtime this game remained tied at 88. Jackie Young broke the tie stealing the ball and scoring. With 1:14 left on the clock the Aces had possession and the lead 92-88. This game was going down to the wire.

With 1:08 left in the game the Sky were trailing 92-90 as referees reviewed a collision between Natasha Cloud and Jackie Young that resulted in Young coming away with a bloody lip.

If the review went in the Aces favor, the Sky’s basket and the Vegas foul would be taken away. It did go in their favor and the Aces had a 92-88 lead, Chicago losing the two points. Chelsea Gray hit another basket with under a minute.

The Sky fell apart offensively in the final seconds running out of time. They had played a great second half of basketball just coming up short in the overtime. The final was 98-90 in favor of the Las Vegas Aces.

GAME NOTES

This was a fight right down to the final seconds. The turning point was the challenge by Las Vegas with 1:10 left on the clock that went in favor of the Aces. Las Vegas went on to finish the Sky who began to miss the shots they had been making in the second half. It was a real team effort with the Las Vegas starters really stepping up in the absence of A’Ja Wilson. A lot of credit has to go to the Sky who played tough to the end of this matchup.

The Aces will have the day off Saturday but will be back in action at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday taking on the seventh place Indiana Fever. With the win Friday night the Aces are now tied with the Lynx for first place. Tipoff for Sunday’s game is scheduled for 4:00 PM PDT.