Tag: Atlanta Dream

The Las Vegas Aces bench with Chelsea Gray (12) are jubilant as the Aces remain undefeated in WNBA action with a win over the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta on Fri Jun 2, 2023 (@LVAces photo)

Las Vegas Stays Undefeated Winning Fifth In A Row Beating Dream 92-87

By Barbara Mason

Friday evening the Las Vegas Aces (4-0) traveled to Atlanta to take on the Atlanta Dream (2-2) and for Aces they remained undefeated with a 92-87 victory. Las Vegas has started the season with a bang amid controversy which has not slowed them down. They played without their Head Coach Becky Hammon in the first two games of the season.

Despite that they sailed through the first two games without Hammon and went on to capture the following three games now sporting a 5-0 record. They clocked their fifth win Friday night.

The Aces have more points per game, a higher percentage of field goals, rebounds, and assists then the Dream. They are also adept when it comes to stealing the ball and there is not much that they cannot do.

The solid starting roster that the Aces have presented huge problems for opposing teams. They are, of course, led by A’Ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Candace Parker. There is not a starter or bench player that is not a threat on this team.

The threat that the Dream brought to this game is Cheyenne Parker, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, everyone of them solid starters. They crushed the Sky last Tuesday 83-65 while the Aces celebrated their fourth win of the season over Minnesota 94-73 on Sunday.

Friday game recap: The Aces got off to a nice start leading after the first ten minutes 24-15. The Dream were only shooting at 31% and the Aces were doing a nice job defensively.

After leading by more than ten points in the second quarter, the Dream made a run but the Aces finished off the first two quarters leading by 15 points 45-30. The Dream were challenged defending Wilson and Young. It was all Aces so far in this game. Parker, who has 16 seasons under her belt, was all over the court dictating play throughout the first two quarters.

Las Vegas continued to lead as the third quarter came to an end, 72-58.

The Aces had led by as much as 19 but the Dream made a run in the fourth quarter to pull to within ten points, 82-72 with 4:10 left in the game. Ten turnovers for the Aces were hurting Las Vegas as the Dream tried to work back into the game trailing 82-86 with 1:38 left in the game.

Atlanta was threatening to hand the Aces their first loss of the season. With under one minute left in the game the Aces were clinging onto a three-point lead 87-84.

A Las Vegas steal gave the Aces an 89-84 lead in a real nail-biter. With 22.5 left in the game Chelsea Gray hit a clutch two giving her team a 91-87 lead. The final was 92-87. The Dream fought hard and very nearly pulled off the upset but just came up short.

Las Vegas had to pull out all the stops to win this game. Wilson finished the game with 21 points and Young had 20 points. The high score for the Dream with 25 points was Cheyenne Parker. It was a close game but the Aces dug deep and came away with the win.

Sunday afternoon the Aces will take on the Indiana Fever on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

The Las Vegas Aces dominate the Atlanta Dream at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Sun Jul 4, 2021 (@LVAces photo)

Las Vegas Finishes Off the Dream 118-95

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Las Vegas Aces were back on the court taking on the Atlanta Dream who are currently 6-10 in the Eastern Conference. The Aces are coming off a great win against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday. The Aces were pushed to the max against Los Angeles who came out with a great game plan disrupting the Las Vegas offense and at one time in the fourth quarter taking the lead.

The Aces remain tied for first with the Seattle Storm in the Western Conference with 13-4 records. The Storm will be taking on the Los Angeles Sparks today in their quest to remain in first place.

The Aces planned to lean heavily on Chelsea Gray, Liz Cambage, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young. This team has consistently seen double digits from all of their starters and will need to see more of this in Sunday’s game against the Dream.

Atlanta is trying to turn their season around after starting the season strong with an early four-game winning streak. The Dream played a very close game against the Storm on Friday night. They are scrappy and will give the Aces a challenge although Vegas will be a very tough team to get past.

The Dream lived up to their scrappy reputation and after the first quarter were leading the Aces by the score of 31-29. So far in this game the Dream were giving the Aces a run for their money. At the half Las Vegas had taken a lead albeit slim, but a 51-48 lead. The Dream were proving to be very tough for the Aces.

At the half A’ja Wilson had 13 points and the Dreams Cheyenne Parker had 10 for high score. Liz Cambage had 11 and Jackie Young had 10 for Las Vegas. They would need all on board to get past Atlanta.

Las Vegas really got onboard in the second half. The Dream hung around in the third quarter but ran out of gas in the closing minutes. The Aces outscored them 34 to 20 in the final quarter. Las Vegas won this one 118-95, a franchise record for points as the Aces closed this one out in dazzling Las Vegas style.

Kelsey Plum finished with 23 points off the bench and Wilson, Cambage, Young and Williams all shot double digits. It was a magnificent team effort.

Next up for Las Vegas will be the 7-9 Phoenix Mercury at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The Aces have now improved to 14-4. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.