Tag: Aces

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces struggled, shooting just 41.1% from the field, in a 92-84 loss to the Sky at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Aces.

Las Vegas got a game high 23 points from guard Kelsey Plum, as she went 7 for 16 from the field and 7 for 7 from the foul line.

Forward A’ja Wilson scored 18 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, while Riquna Williams added 14.

The Sky were led by guard Allie Quigley, who dropped 22 points.

With the loss, the Aces fell to 20-8 on the season and sit 1.5 games behind the Connecticut Sun for first place.

The Aces will next play at home on Wednesday against the 18-9 Minnesota Lynx with just four games remaining in the regular season.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Sky shot 50.7% from the field.
• Las Vegas outrebounded the Sky, 38-37.
• A’ja Wilson and Kiah Stokes combined for 22 rebounds.

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
Dearica Hamby – Out, left ankle sprain
Liz Cambage – Out, health and safety protocol

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces returned home after a three-game road trip and beat the Chicago Sky, 90-83, at the Michelob Ultra Arena.

A’ja Wilson, Riquana Williams and Kelsey Plum each scored 21 points to lead the Aces.

Las Vegas was without their star center, Liz Cambage, as she tested positive for COVID-19, but is full vaccinated.

The Sky got a game high 30 points from forward Candace Parker, while she also pulled down 14 rebounds in the loss.

With the win, the Aces improved to 20-7 on the season and sit one game behind the Connecticut Sun for first place.

The Aces will next play the Sky again this time in Chicago on Sunday with just five games remaining in the regular season.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 45.2% from the field.
• Las Vegas outrebounded the Sky, 39-32.
• A’ja Wilson and Kiah Stokes combined for 23 rebounds.

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
Dearica Hamby – Out, left ankle sprain
Liz Cambage – Out, health and safety protocol

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces ended their three-game road trip with a convincing 87-71 win over the Fever in Indiana.

“Today’s game was a trap game where it‘s the last game of the road trip and they are playing better as of late,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “I thought the starters took care of business.”

Las Vegas finished the three-game road trip 2-1.

“If you told me that we would be 2-1 on this road trip, I would be like ‘I want to be 3-0, but I would take 2-1’,” said Laimbeer.

The Aces had six players in double figures in scoring with Riquna Williams leading the way with 15 points.

“We had to redeem ourselves even after winning in Atlanta,” said Williams. “We didn’t look like ourselves.”

Kelsey Plum scored 14 points and dished out six assists, while Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young also added 13 each.

“We just had to lock in, cut out our turnovers and make defensive stops,” said Young on the win.

With the win, the Aces improved to 19-7 on the season heading home to face the Chicago Sky on Thursday at the Michelob Ultra Arena.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 48.4% from the field.
• Las Vegas turned the ball over 16 times, while Indiana committed 15 turnovers.
• Liz Cambage pulled down nine rebounds while adding 12 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
Dearica Hamby – Out, left ankle sprain

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces bounced back from a tough loss in Connecticut on Tuesday with a come from behind win over the Dream in Atlanta, 78-71.

The Aces trailed by eight at halftime, but rallied to outscore the Dream 38-23 in the second half.

“We turned the defense on [in the second half] and that won us the game,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We need to come out at the start and play harder.”

After just four points on Tuesday night, A’ja Wilson dropped 21 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists.

“Her overall game tonight was very solid,” said Laimbeer. “She knew that it was one of those strange occurrences [Tuesday night] and she needed to help the team tonight.”

“I don’t ever what to play like that again,” Wilson said about Tuesday night’s game. “I knew this game was very important for me and I am glad to have a game like this to showcase myself.”

Dearica Hamby came off the bench to score 20 points, while Liz Cambage added 17.

“Our feet were kind of in the mud in the first half, but a win is a win,” said Hamby.

With the win, the Aces improved to 18-7 on the season heading into their third straight game on the road with a game on Saturday in Indiana against the Fever.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces held the Dream to just 36.1% from the field.
• Las Vegas outrebounded Atlanta 43-34.
• Injured guard Angel McCoughtry entered the game in the final seconds of the game to play in front of the fans that she played in front of for so many years.  McCoughtry will not play again this season while rehabbing from a right ACL injury.

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:

None

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