Author: psushawn

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces dropped their second straight game in a 77-67 loss to the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

“That’s probably as bad as a game as we played all season,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “Disappointing on our end, they were not there.”

Las Vegas dropped their second game in two weeks to the Lynx after losing 90-89 in Minneapolis back on June 25^th.

“They wanted it a lot more than we did,” said Laimbeer. “The effort level that we put out today was not acceptable.”

The Aces were led by guard Kelsey Plum, who came off the bench and scored 18 points.

“We have to be ready from the jump,” said Plum. “We dug ourselves a big hole and it is really hard to get back in the game.”

Olympian A’ja Wilson scored 13 points, while Dearica Hamby added 12 points and nine rebounds.

“We just got a little lazy, standing around,” said Hamby about their offense. “We want to play with pace, but we weren’t really focused and locked in.”

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 14-6 on the season and remain one game behind the first place Seattle Storm.

The Aces will have one final game on Sunday in Dallas against the Wings, before a long one-month break for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 14^th and for the Olympics.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot just 35.8% from the field, while Minnesota shot 45.3%.
• Las Vegas has used the same starting lineup for the first 19 games, until tonight since Liz Cambage is currently with the Australian National Team.  She was replaced at center by Kiah Stokes.
• Current Lynx and former Aces guard Kayla McBride returned for the first time with her new team back to Las Vegas.  She was greeted with a scoreboard tribute during pre-game introductions.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 41 Kiah Stokes
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL
Liz Cambage – Out, Australian Nation Team

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces took the second of back-to-back games against the New York Liberty in a 103-76 win at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

Las Vegas took control of the game in the first quarter with an 11-0 run to end the first and never looked back.

Six Aces scored in double figures including Kelsey Plum, who came off the bench and scored 18 points with seven assists.

A’ja Wilson scored 17 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Dearica Hamby led the team in rebounds with 12.

With the win, the Aces improved to 10-3 and remained 1.5 games behind the Seattle Storm atop the WNBA standings.

The Aces will have some time off now and will next play on Friday, June 25^th in Minneapolis against the Lynx.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 44.2% from the field, while holding New York to just 31.3%.
• Las Vegas pulled down 52 rebounds in the game, while the Liberty had 36.
• The Liberty were led by starting guard Betnijah Laney with 20 points.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces won their fourth straight game in a 100-78 victory over the New York Liberty at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

The Liberty kept the game close in the third quarter, but the Aces pulled away in the fourth with a 10-2 run to open the quarter.

Las Vegas got a career high 32 points off the bench from guard Kelsey Plum, who went 11 for 16 from the field, including 3 for 6 from three-point range.

Liz Cambage recorded a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, while Dearica Hamby added 16.

Last season’s WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, scored just 10 points.

With the win, the Aces improved to 9-3 and moved into sole possession of second place in the WNBA standings, 1.5 games behind the Seattle Storm.

The Aces will again play the New York Liberty at home on Thursday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 55.6% from the field.
• Las Vegas turned the ball over 15 times.
• The Liberty were led by Jazmine Jones off the bench with 17 points.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces saw an eight point lead dwindle down to two with 4:15 remaining, but went on a 10-5 run to beat the Dallas Wings 85-78 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

“If we take care of business during the course of the game, it never would have come down to having to make some shots down the stretch,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while Liz Cambage added 14.

“This is a big win,” said Wilson. “Dallas is coming off a win streak and they made us work, but we still need to do better.”

After beating the Washington Mystics back on Saturday, June 5^th, the Aces had seven days to recuperate from a three game road trip.

“We had been on a long road trip and then had eight days off, so it was good to get a win and continue to get better,” said guard Kelsey Plum.

The Aces got 13 points off the bench from Plum.

With the win, the Aces improved to 8-3 heading into back to back home games against the New York Liberty starting on Tuesday.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 46.9% from the field.
• Las Vegas turned the ball over 16 times.
• Forward Satou Sabally led the Wings with 24 points.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

By Shawn McCullough

The Washington Mystics rolled off a 16-6 run in the last four minutes, but the Aces held on for a 96-93 win in Washington, D.C.

“It was a tough one today,” said center Liz Cambage. “We just stayed together and got it done.”

With the game tied with one minute left in the game, A’ja Wilson pulled down a huge offensive rebound and hit the shot to put the Aces in front for good.

“We got good looks down the stretch, but we made the plays when we had to to end the game,” said Laimbeer.

Wilson went just 3 for 14 from the field for 15 points, but three other players scored 20 or more points including Liz Cambage with 24.

The Aces finished off a tiring three game road trip, going 2-1 in that stretch.

“Solid win for us on the road,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We are a tired basketball team right now, but we gutted this one out.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 7-3 heading into a week-long break before facing the Dallas Wings at home on Sunday, June 13^th.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 43.4% from the field.
• The Aces out-rebounded the Mystics, 44-35.
• A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage combined for 26 total rebounds.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces bounced back from a tough loss in Connecticut with a 94-82 win over the New York Liberty at Barclays Center.

“We won the game, that’s a positive,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We made some mistakes in this game and we didn’t play smart.  Overall, we have to play smarter.”

The Aces outscored the Liberty 14-3 in the last four minutes of the game.

“We started playing Aces basketball,” said Laimbeer. “Getting rebounds was the key to the last four minutes.”

The Aces were led by forward A’ja Wilson who scored 30 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

“We are still trying to find our identity,” said Wilson. “We let them back into the game, but we grinded.”

Jackie young added 16 points, while Chelsea Gray scored 11 and dished out nine assists.

“Proud of this team and their fight,” said Gray. “We just needed to stick to our game plan and get locked in.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 6-3 on the season heading into their next game on Saturday in Washington against the Mystics.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 45.7% from the field, while holding the Liberty to 40.7%.
• Rebounding in the game was tied 38-38.
• Guard Kelsey Plum returned from the U.S. Women’s 3×3 basketball team Olympic qualifiers and came off the bench to score four points.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces couldn’t hold on late as the Sun beat Las Vegas, 74-67, in Connecticut.

“We are not a halfcourt, slugfest team and that is the second game that we played their [Sun] game,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.  “The tempo was the biggest problem against Connecticut.”

Las Vegas led by two with 7:33 left, but was outscored 19-11 to finish the game.

“We walked the ball up the floor, we turned it over,” said Laimbeer on the final stretch of the game.   “We could have won this game if we played our game.”

The Aces were led by a dominating performance inside by center Liz Cambage, who scored 28 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

“I’m getting more shots and it normally equals more points,” said Cambage. “Just bang inside and go right against them.”

A’ja Wilson scored 14 points, while Chelsea Gray added 10.

“We have to understand who we are and play that same way every single game,” said Wilson.

The Sun improved to 7-2 and sit in second place in the WNBA standings.

With the loss, the Aces fell to 5-3 on the season heading into their next game on Thursday in New York against the Liberty.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 43.8% from the field.
• The loss snapped an Aces three game winning streak.
• Guard Kelsey Plum will return from the U.S. Women’s 3×3 basketball team Olympic qualifiers on Thursday.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL
Kelsey Plum—Out, USA Basketball 3×3

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces took care of business for a second straight game against the Indiana Fever with a 101-78 win at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

“We are making great progress offensively,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We are going to score points, but the question is can we stop someone on defense consistently.”

Liz Cambage dropped a double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, while also blocking five shots.

“All I am focused on is rebounding and blocking shots,” said Cambage.

Dearica Hamby led the Aces with 22 points, while A’ja Wilson added 15.

“I was able to run,” said Hamby. “That gets me going and I think that gets the whole team going.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 3-0 against teams below .500.

“Indiana is a young team and they are trying to find their way,” said Laimbeer. “You need to win your home games and we took care of business.”

The Aces improved to 5-2 on the season heading into their next game on Tuesday in Connecticut against the Sun.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 56.7% from the field, while holding Indiana to 38.8%.
• Las Vegas has now won three straight games.
• Destiny Slocum returned to the lineup from concussion protocol.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL
Kelsey Plum—Out, USA Basketball 3×3

The Aces came out firing on all cylinders in a 113-77 blowout of the Indiana Fever at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

“I thought we were efficient across the board, offensively and defensively,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “When we shoot 55%, we will be hard to beat.”

When the Aces signed three-time WNBA All-Star Chelsea Gray back in February, they knew that they were getting a forward who could take over a game.

Gray had a double-double, scoring 19 points and dishing out 12 assists.

“I think Chelsea is showing why we got her and she is fun to watch,” said Laimbeer.

“It feels good when we are flowing,” said Gray. “Our execution was pretty good tonight.”

The 2020 WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, dropped 23 points, while Dearica Hamby came off the bench to lead the team with 25.

“We have a target on our back and at the end of the day we need to focus on us, but yea, it was a good win,” said Wilson.

The Aces have now won two straight games and improved to 4-2 on the season heading into their next game on Sunday at home in a re-match against the Fever.

“They [Indiana] will make some adjustments and it will be a dogfight in our next game,” said Laimbeer. “It’s going to be a completely different game come Sunday.”

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 55.1% from the field, while holding Indiana to 39.4%.
• The Fever’s only lead of the game was at 2-0 in the first quarter.
• The Aces only had eight players dressed for the game.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL
Kelsey Plum—Out, USA Basketball 3×3
Destiny Slocum—Out, concussion protocols