Category: Las Vegas Aces

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

By Shawn McCullough

Six Aces players scored in double digits as Las Vegas rolled over the Dream, 96-73, in Atlanta.

“We kind of picked up where we left off last season,” said guard Kelsey Plum on the balanced scoring. “We shared the ball well and people were getting open looks.”

Plum scored 14 points and dished out 11 assists.

The Aces fell to the Mystics in Washington DC on Tuesday, 89-76, after scoring just seven points in the third quarter.

“It [the win] was huge,” said guard Chelsea Gray. “It said a lot about our team to come back and play like we are capable of playing.”

Gray scored 14 points.

The Aces took and made franchise highs in three-pointers, going 16 for 35 from beyond the arc.

“We have been putting them up pretty good,” said guard Riquna Williams. “We want to shoot the three.   If they give it to us, we are going to take it.”

Williams scored 14 points, making four three-pointers.

Dearica Hamby had a double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, while A’ja Wilson dropped a team high 15 points.

With the win, the Aces improved to 3-1 on the season heading into a matchup at home on Tuesday against the Phoenix Mercury.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 47.1% from the field.
Las Vegas turned the ball over 13 times.
The Aces were out-rebounded by the Dream, 36-31.

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:

Kiah Stokes – Out, Overseas

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces led 49-35 at halftime, but scored just seven points in the third quarter to fall to the Mystics in Washington, 89-76.

Las Vegas was outscored 53-27 in the second half.

The Aces were led by forward Jackie Young, who scored 19 points, while Kelsey Plum added 18.

A’ja Wilson had a double-double scoring 10 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

The Aces struggled from three-point range, going just 6 for 17 beyond the arc.

This was head coach Becky Hammon’s first loss with the Aces.

With the loss, the Aces fell to 2-1 on the season heading into a matchup in Atlanta on Friday against the Dream.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot just 41.5% from the field.
Las Vegas turned the ball over 16 times.
The Aces were out-rebounded by the Mystics, 38-34.

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
Kiah Stokes – Out, Overseas

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces have a new head coach.

Former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon was named the Aces head coach.

Hammon was with the Spurs as a coach since 2014, but will now be a head coach for the first time.

“I am so excited to return to the WNBA and grateful for Mark Davis and Nikki Fargas having a vision for me to lead the Aces,” said Hammon. “This is where I come from, and I wouldn’t be me without the W. I’m thrilled to be able to give back and lead this next group of women.”

Hammon will replace Bill Laimbeer, who was the Aces head coach from 2018 through 2021.  Laimbeer will remain within the organization to help build the 2022 roster.

“This is the best possible scenario for the Las Vegas Aces,” said Laimbeer. “It takes a tremendous amount of energy to be a head coach. In Becky, the team now has somebody who can serve in that role for the long term, which is great for both the players and the franchise.”

Hammon played for both the New York Liberty and the San Antonio Stars in the WNBA.

NOTE: The Aces also added basketball legend Jennifer Azzi as the team’s chief business development officer.