Author: psushawn

Aces lose second straight game 75-70

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AcesMystics

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces jumped out quickly in the game, but later fell in a close 75-70 loss to the Washington Mystics in the nation’s capital.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Nia Coffey added a career high 14 points.

The Aces jumped out to a 29-13 lead with 4:20 left in the second quarter, but the Mystics chipped away and finally went on an 8-0 run in the third quarter to even the game.

With the loss, the Aces (formerly the San Antonio Stars) dropped to 0-2 on the season.  The Stars started the 2017 season 0-13 before winning their first game of the season 89-82 over Chicago at home on June 30th.

The Aces will play their home games this season at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and will play their first regular season home game this Sunday, May 27th against the Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’j Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 8 Carolyn Swords
G – 12 Nia Coffey
G – 15 Lindsay Allen

Aces start the season with 101-65 loss to Connecticut

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2018_5_20LasVegasAcesConnecticutSun133

Photo credit: Ian Bethune/The UConn Blog

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces shot just 26.5% from the field and fell to the Connecticut Sun 101-65 in Uncasville, CT.

Tamera Young led the Aces with 23 points, shooting 7-14 from the field.  Young has a career average of 7.0 points per game over 10 seasons in the WNBA.

A’ja Wilson made her professional debut logging a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled again from the field going just 3 for 13.  Wilson was just 4 for 17 from the field in the Aces final pre-season game against Dallas.

The Aces jumped out to an early first quarter lead with a 14-4 run, but lost the lead for good soon after when the Sun went on an 11-2 run.

With the loss, the Aces (formerly the San Antonio Stars) dropped to 0-6 in season openers, last winning their season opener in 2012.

The Aces will play their home games this season at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and will play their first regular season home game on Sunday, May 27th against the Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’j Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 8 Carolyn Swords
G – 12 Nia Coffey
G – 15 Lindsay Allen

Aces fall to Wings 68-55 in preseason finale

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20180506 - A'Ja Wilson 02

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces finished their preseason with a 68-55 loss to the Wings in Dallas.

A’ja Wilson struggled in her second professional game shooting just 4 for 17 from the field and scoring nine points.  Wilson dominated on the boards, pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds.

Tamera Young led the team in scoring with 11 points.

12 Aces players logged minutes in preparation for Las Vegas’ season opener on Sunday, May 20th against the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, CT.

With the loss, the Aces finished the preseason 1-1, after a 98-63 win over the Chinese National Team in Las Vegas last weekend.

The Aces will play their home games this season at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and will play their first regular season home game on Sunday, May 27th against the Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 19 JiSu Park
F – 1 Tamera Young
G – 12 Nia Coffey
G – 51 Sydney Colson

Aces win first ever game in Las Vegas 98-63

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20180506 - A'Ja Wilson 04

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

The WNBA made its debut in Las Vegas as the first year Aces defeated the Chinese National Team 98-63 in preseason play at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday.

The first overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft, A’ja Wilson, led the Ace in scoring with 20 points and added seven rebounds while Nia Coffey added 15 points.

“I was nervous,” Wilson said of her first professional game.  “But once I got out there and I kind of saw my teammates getting hyped, it kind of really helped me out in that situation.”

“We know she’s going to do well,” said guard and Las Vegas native Sequoia Holmes of Wilson.  “I personally think that she is going to be better as a pro than as a college player because teams are not going to be able to sit in the paint or double her”

The Aces trailed 28-27 with 5:55 left in the second quarter, but went on a 20-3 run to break open the game.

“It was because of our defensive pressure,” head coach Bill Laimbeer said of the 20-3 run. “We started running some fresh legs and really got after their guards.  We want to be a much better team than San Antonio was last year and they really got after it and got some turnovers.”

Before coming to the Aces, Laimbeer coached the New York Liberty from 2013 to 2017 and the Detroit Shock from 2002 to 2009.

Prior to relocating to Las Vegas this season, the Aces were the San Antonio Stars from 2002 to 2017. The team struggled the last three seasons with a combined 23-79 record.

The Aces will play their home games this season at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and will play their first regular season home game on Sunday, May 27th against the Seattle Storm.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes: The Chinese National Team will also play a preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 12th.

2,091 fans were in attendance, despite the Vegas Golden Knights playing Game 6 of the NHL Playoffs against the Sharks in San Jose at the same time.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval was in attendance, sporting a UNLV shirt.

Game Starters:
C – 22 A’j Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
F – 3 Kelsey Bone
G – 12 Nia Coffey
G – 51 Sydney Colson