Tag: Aces

Just over halfway through their inaugural season, the Aces have found a solid offensive 1-2 punch.

Kayla McBride scored 28 points while rookie A’ja Wilson dropped 24 in an 84-80 win over the Chicago Sky at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Thursday night.

“We rode our two big horses with McBride and Wilson, but scratched out a win,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We got big rebounds when we had to and we’ll take the home win.”

Laimbeer believes that the two have elevated their play as the season progressed.

They (Wilson and McBride) are counted on to do the bulk of our scoring and everybody in the league knows it,” said Laimbeer. “Teams are trying to set defenses to stop them but they’re just playing at all-star caliber right now.”

Wilson and McBride have established a chemistry together that is now showing on the court.

“We work well off each other and they’re double-teaming if they’re trapping in the post,” said Wilson. “I know that I can trust the fact that I can kick it out to her and she’ll knock down the open shot. I think she feels the same way.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 7-12 on the season and moved into ninth place in the WNBA standings.

“I thought that was a very important win for us, we have an outside chance at a playoff berth down the road if we continue to be competitive and win games,” said Laimbeer.  “They’re growing and they’re hungry and they want that playoff chance, so I told them they had to win this game and they did.”

The Aces trail the Atlanta Dream by 2.5 games and the Dallas Wings by three games, as the top eight teams in the league make the playoffs.

The Aces will next play the Connecticut Sun on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• A’ja Wilson scored in double figures (24) for the 19th straight game.
• Carolyn Swords pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds.
• Moriah Jefferson played her first game at home, coming off a knee injury.
• 4,699 Aces fans were in attendance.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 3 Kelsey Bone
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Photo credit: Richard Brian, Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces trialed the entire game falling to the Los Angeles Sparks 87-71 at Staples Center on Sunday.

Tamera Young led the Aces with 16 points, while dishing eight assists and pulling down five rebounds.

Four Aces scored in double digits, including A’ja Wilson, who scored 10 points, but was limited in playing time due to foul trouble.

The Aces beat the Sparks 94-78 on Friday in Las Vegas as Wilson scored 29 points in that game.

Guard Moriah Jefferson played in her first game of the season coming off a knee injury, but was held scoreless in a little over 11 minutes of play.

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 6-12 on the season.

The Aces will next return home on Thursday to face the Chicago Sky (6-10) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 3 Kelsey Bone
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

There’s nothing better than coming home after playing five of the last six games on the road.

The Las Vegas Aces battled in a close game down to the end and pulled out an 88-78 win over the New York Liberty at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Friday night.

Las Vegas went on a 10-4 run with 2:31 remaining in regulation to secure the win.

“We won,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.  “But we didn’t play well.  We are getting better.  We would have lost this game six or seven games ago.”

“It’s always good to get a win at home,” said A’ja Wilson.  “It was tough.   There were times that we didn’t really come out with a lot of energy.”

Kayla McBride led the Aces with a season-high 27 points while Wilson scored 20 and pulled down 14 rebounds.

“I give Kayla McBride all the credit in the world for willing this victory for us,” said Laimbeer.  “She stood up and was the determining factor in this game.”

With the win, the Aces improved to 5-9 on the season.

“It’s definitely big for us,” said Wilson on the win. “Just the momentum going here at home will help us out.”

The Aces will next play three straight home games against three of the better teams in the WNBA: Minnesota, Dallas and Los Angeles.

“We have to continue to make a statement especially when we are at home,” said McBride. “We need to continue to have confidence and we are going to be really good.”

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• A’ja Wilson scored in double figures (20) for the 14th straight game.
• The Aces held the Liberty to 37.5% shooting from the field.
• 5,478 Aces fans attended the game.
• The Vegas Golden Knights’ backup goaltender Malcolm Subban was in attendance
• Moriah Jefferson (knee) did not play due to injury.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 12 Nia Coffey
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Photo credit: Las Vegas Aces

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces got their fourth win of the season in an 87-77 win over the Seattle Storm at KeyArena on Tuesday night.

The Aces out-rebounded the Storm 43-25 as A’ja Wilson pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds, while JiSu Park added 11 rebounds.

Wilson led the Aces in scoring with 25 points, while Seattle’s Breanna Stewart had a game-high 27 points.

Kayla McBride dropped 17 points, including three baskets from 3-point range, while Tamera Young came off the bench to add 17 points.

The Storm got to within four points with just under six minutes remaining in regulation, but the Aces went on an 11-2 run to seal the game.

With the win, the Aces improved to 4-9 on the season.

The Aces will next return home on Friday to face the New York Liberty at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 12 Nia Coffey
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum

Photo credit: Shawn McCullough, Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

Diana Taurasi and Brittany Griner combined for 52 points as the Phoenix Mercury won their eighth straight game beating the Las Vegas Aces 92-80 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sunday night.

A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while Kayla McBride scored 20.

Wilson, in just her 12^th professional game, learned in-game from facing Griner and adjusted as the game progressed.

“I had to knock a couple down in front of her, then I could use my versatility,” said Wilson.

Griner did have very good things to say about Wilson.

“She’s an awesome player,” said Griner.  “I would be very shocked if she doesn’t get rookie of the year. She’s just going and scoring. I am excited to see how she grows.”

Getting two wins during their recent four game road trip gave the young Aces momentum.

“The road trip was really good for us to get wins on the road and we carried some momentum,” said McBride.  “We are still learning, still growing and trying to get better.”

“We are getting better,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.  “We are still very young, but we are learning. I am seeing great progress.”

The Aces are now 3-9 on the season and next travel to Seattle to play the Storm on Tuesday.

The Aces next home game will be on Friday, June 22^nd against the New York Liberty at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 1 Tamera Young
C – 19 JiSu Park
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 10 Kelsey Plum