Author: psushawn

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces finished off a three game East Coast road trip with a 91-83 win over the Sun in Connecticut.

The Aces trailed 37-35 at halftime, but came out on a 9-0 run to start the second half to pull away.

Guard Kelsey Plum scored a game high 22 points, going 7 for 14 from the field.

Chelsea Gray dropped 21 points, while A’ja Wilson added 20 and pulled down seven rebounds.

The Aces went 3-0 on this East Coast road trip.

With the win, the Aces improved to 18-7 on the season and are one game behind Chicago at the top of the WNBA standings.

The Aces will return home for three straight games, including their next game against the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot only 41.9% from the field.
Las Vegas was out-rebounded by the Sun, 41-30.
The Aces signed guard Kelsey Plum to a contract extension.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None

By Shawn McCullough

In their third straight game against the Liberty, the Aces routed New York at Barclays Center, 108-74, to take two of the three games.

Las Vegas again dominated the first quarter, outscoring the Liberty 37-13, but this time also controlled the game after that.

All-Star A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 25 points, while guard Kelsey Plum dropped 21, going 4 for 7 from three-point range.

The Aces hit 16 three-point shots in the game.

Chelsea Gray went 6 for 7 from the field, including 4 for 4 from three-point range.

With the win, the Aces improved to 17-7 on the season and inched to within ½ game of Chicago at the top of the WNBA standings.

The Aces will next travel to Connecticut to face the Sun on Sunday before returning home for three straight games.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 53.5% from the field.
Las Vegas out-rebounded the Liberty, 40-30.
For a second straight game, the Aces never trailed in the game.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None

Photo Credit: WNBA

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces avenged a 116-107 loss to the Liberty last Wednesday with a 107-101 win over New York at Barclays Center.

The Aces defense stepped up in the first half, holding the Liberty to just 28 points.

The Aces once led by as many as 24 points, but the Liberty rallied in the second half.

“Bad first half for them and then you flip the script,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “They put together a good second half.”

“I don’t think that we did a very good job closing today,” said guard Kelsey Plum. “We took our foot off the gas.”

The Aces were led by Plum, who scored 27 points while going 3 for 9 from three-point range.

“A win is a win and we need to learn from it,” said Plum.

Forwards A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young each dropped 23 points, while Wilson recorded her 50^th career double-double, pulling down 14 rebounds.

“We have a target on our back, but we don’t have a monkey on our back,” said Wilson. “We try to stick together as much as we can. We lean on each other and we try to execute the best we can and get the win.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 16-7 on the season heading into their third straight game against the Liberty on Thursday in New York.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 51.6% from the field, while going 34 for 35 from the free throw line.
The Aces out-rebounded the Liberty, 36-27.
The Aces never trailed in the game.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces outscored the Sparks 52-35 in the first half en route to an 89-72 win over Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena.

“Quality win. We came out and executed our game plan defensively,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “Holding a team like that to 72 points is an exceptional job.”

A’ja Wilson led the Aces, scoring 35 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.  It was Wilson’s seventh double-double of the season.

“A’ja had a big night. She is a handful when she gets it going,” said Hammon. “Her offense was her offense, but her defense was exceptional. We are seeing a more well-rounded player.”

“The ball was just going through the hoop,” said Wilson. “I had a rough stretch of games and I needed to step up for my team.”

Dearica Hamby dropped 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Kelsey Plum added 17.

“It was nice to get my confidence back tonight,” said Hamby.

All 89 Aces points came from the five starters.  The bench players went 0-8 from the field.

Las Vegas held former Aces center Liz Cambage to just six points and six rebounds.

With the win, the Aces improved to a WNBA best 11-2 on the season, heading into their next game in Dallas against the Wings on Wednesday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 48.5% from the field, while going 7 for 24 from three-point range.
The Aces out-rebounded the Sparks, 41-30.
The Aces turned the ball over 19 times.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 55 Theresa Plaisance
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Jackie Young – Out, Right Ankle Sprain
Riquna Williams – Out, Left Foot Sprain

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces rebounded from a loss to Connecticut on Thursday with an 84-78 win over the Dallas Wings at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“Tough battle,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “We dug in and found a way to win.”

“Every game isn’t going to be pretty,” said guard Chelsea Gray. “It was a gritty win.”

Dallas was able to keep the game close by pulling down 19 offensive rebounds, but Las Vegas held them to just 10 second chance points.

“They hurt us on the glass and thankfully we were able to get stops down the stretch,” said Hammon.

Aces guard Kelsey Plum tied a career high 32 points, going 10 for 19 from the field and 4 for 11 from three-point range.

“We were proud that everyone came with the mindset to win the game,” said Plum. “I was proud of the way we battled.”

A’ja Wilson had just eight points and seven rebounds, but was in foul trouble the whole game and later fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“A’ja is our anchor and when she is missing, you feel it,” said Hammon about Wilson’s fouls and the referee calls. “She needs to get more respect on both ends of the floor.”

With the win, the Aces improved to a WNBA best 10-2 record heading into a two game road trip in Los Angeles and in Dallas.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot just 42.3% from the field, while holding Dallas to 34.6%.
Las Vegas was out-rebounded by the Wings, 50-35.
The Aces forced 17 Wings turnovers.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 55 Theresa Plaisance
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Riquna Williams – Out, Left Foot Sprain
Jackie Young – Out, Right Ankle Sprain

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces won their seventh straight game in an 89-81 win over the Connecticut Sun at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Center A’ja Wilson scored a game high 24 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.

Wilson scored in double figures for the ninth time this season and recorded her sixth double-double of the season.

Guard Jackie Young dropped 24 points, while guard Kelsey Plum scored 18, going 3 for 7 from three-point range.

The Aces got just four points off the bench, all four from center Kiah Stokes.

With the win, the Aces improved to 9-1 on the season with the best record in the WNBA.

Las Vegas will face the Connecticut Sun again on Thursday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 45.2% from the field, while going 6 for 25 from three-point range.
Las Vegas out-rebounded the Sun, 38-37.
The Aces outscored the Sun 22-2 in fast break points.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Riquna Williams – Out, Left Foot Sprain

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces knocked down 18 three-point shots enroute to a 104-76 blowout win over the Los Angeles Sparks at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“We were pretty locked in from the jump,” said head coach Becky Hammon. “I was more happy with our defense holding that team to 76 points.”

The Aces were led by center A’ja Wilson, who scored 24 points, going 10 for 15 from the field.

“A’ja really set the tone and defensively, she worked,” said Hammon. “She has been our leader on both ends of the floor.”

“I just try to put the ball in the hoop,” said Wilson. “My teammates trust me enough.”

The 18 three-pointers set a franchise record, along with tying a WNBA record.

Forward Jackie Young scored 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds, while guard Kelsey Plum added 17.

“You saw not just starters, but everyone contributed,” said Plum. “People had complete games.  We are in a great rhythm and a great flow.”

Las Vegas held former Aces center Liz Cambage to just 10 points and four rebounds.

With the win, the Aces improved to 7-1 on the season.

Las Vegas will next face a tough three game stretch, traveling to Chicago on Saturday, then returning home for two games against the Connecticut Sun.

“These next 3 games, we are going to get a feel of where we are at,” said Hammon. “It is going to be a really good test.”

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 50.7% from the field, while going 18 for 38 from three-point range.
The Aces out-rebounded the Sparks, 42-32.
Guard Jackie Young was named WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Riquna Williams – Out, Left Foot Sprain

The Aces exploded in the third quarter to beat the Phoenix Mercury, 100-80, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Up 44-42 at halftime, the Aces went on a 38-18 run in the third quarter to break the game open.  The 38 points were a record number of points in a quarter in franchise history.

“We really buckled down defensive,” said head coach Becky Hammon about the third quarter. “The girls really locked in.  Offensively we got out and we were able to run on them.”

Las Vegas was led by guard Kelsey Plum, scoring 24 points and going 3 for 6 from three-point range.

“We were a little complacent in the first half,” said Plum. “We knew that we had to step up our defensive intensity.”

“She just comes in and shoots the open shots,” said Hammon about Plum. “I think it’s going in every time.”

Forward Jackie Young scored 20 points, while Dearica Hamby and Chelsea Gray added 13.

“I think it’s just being confident shooting and being ready to shoot the next one,” said Young about her shot.

The Aces got 11 points and nine rebounds from Theresa Plaisance off the bench.

With the win, the Aces improved to 5-1 on the season heading into a matchup at home on Monday against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 47.9% from the field, while going 9 for 27 from three-point range.
Las Vegas forced 15 Phoenix turnovers.
The Aces out-rebounded the Mercury, 36-33.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Riquna Williams – Out, Left Foot Sprain

By Shawn McCullough

All five Aces’ starters scored 13 or more points as Las Vegas beat the Phoenix Mercury, 86-74, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

The Aces were led by guard Kelsey Plum with 20 points, going 4 for 8 from three-point range, while Jackie Young added 19.

A’ja Wilson recorded her 4^th double-double this season (out of five games), scoring 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Aces fell behind early, trailing 29-21 after the first quarter, but rallied in the second and third quarters, outscoring the Mercury 48-26.

Las Vegas got 82 points from their starting five, while only getting four points from the bench.

With the win, the Aces improved to 4-1 on the season heading into a matchup at home on Thursday against the Minnesota Lynx.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 46.8% from the field.
Las Vegas forced 15 Phoenix turnovers.
The Aces were out-rebounded by the Mercury, 31-29.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 5 Dearica Hamby
F – 0 Jackie Young
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None