Tag: Atlanta Dream

Aces Win First Round of Playoffs Eliminating Chicago Sky 92-70

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

A’ja Wilson (22) forward of the Las Vegas Aces snuffs a shot attempt by the Chicago Sky’s center Elizabeth Williams (right) during first half action in game 2 of the NBA Playoffs at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Sun Sep 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces took control from the opening quarter and never let down winning with dominating play over the Chicago Sky. Chicago did rally in the fourth quarter pulling to within nine points but Las Vegas surged and finished off this game 92-70 on Sunday in game 2.

Aces game recap: The Las Vegas Aces (34-6) took on the Chicago Sky (18-22) Sunday afternoon at Michelob ULTRA Arena in game two of the first round of this year’s playoffs. The Aces won the first game of the series last Wednesday night 87-69.

Las Vegas wasted no time getting off to a nice start winning the opening quarter 23-14. They would continue to pile on the points as this game wore on. They won the second quarter 21-15 and led at the half 44-29 leading by 15 points. They would have to play at the same pace in the second half where they have been known to dominate this season.

Las Vegas kept pushing in the third quarter winning the quarter 25-16 and leading after three 69-45. They seemed to have this game in total control. The Sky had other plans however making a move in the fourth quarter cutting a 28 point lead down to 11 points with 6:41 left in the game.

The Sky were making an incredible charge and the Aces needed to pull out all the stops to slow Chicago down. When this game got too close for comfort Las Vegas tightened it’s reins pushing their lead to 20 points 82-62 with under five minutes left on the clock.

With 3:32 left in the game A’Ja Wilson took a shot in the right eye and had to take the bench. Wilson appeared to be ok but would not take the court for the rest of the game. With 2:27 left in the game Las Vegas had a 90-66 lead and with 38 points and 16 rebounds Wilson had another double-double. The bench players got a chance to finish off this game.

This was an outstanding game for the Aces winning the first three quarters. The Sky did win the fourth quarter 25-23 but this was far too little too late. A’Ja Wilson outdid herself finishing with another double-double and thankfully, her eye injury was not serious and she was no worse for wear.

Wilson’s supporting cast had a fairly quiet game. Jackie Young finished with 15 points and Kelsey Plum had 10 points. Young, Plum and Chelsea Gray will all have to step up as Las Vegas goes into the semi-final round of the playoffs.

While they did not have a banner game, many of the points the Aces did score came at critical junctures to finish off this win. What was also critically important was the defensive effort from the Aces forcing 18 Sky turnovers.

The energy that the Aces came into this game with was contagious as they rolled through most of this game. When the Sky rallied the Aces shut it down in record time to move into the next round of the playoffs.

Las Vegas now waits to see who they will play in the semi-final round. They will play the winner of the Dallas Wings vs Atlanta Dream series. Dallas leads that series 1-0. If that series is tied Game 3 will be played next Friday. This coming week the Aces will find out who their semi-final opponent will be with that first game being played next Sunday at 2:00 PM in Las Vegas.

A’Ja Wilson’s 50+ Points Dominates the Dream 112-100

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson (22) outscores everyone defeating the Atlanta Dream in WNBA action at the Gateway Center at College Park GA (@LVAces photo)

A’Ja Wilson’s 50+ Points Dominates the Dream 112-100

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the Las Vegas Aces (29-4) traveled to Atlanta to take on the Dream (16-17) and the Aces A’Ja Wilson led with an amazing 50 point to defeat the Dream 112-110.

Tuesday game wrap: It was a hard-fought battle in the opening quarter with the Dream winning the first quarter by the slimmest of margins 34-33.

The battle continued into halftime with the Aces this time leading by the slimmest of margins 56-55. A’Ja Wilson was having a terrific first half with 22 points as was Kelsey Plum with 14 points. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young both had an unusually quiet first half.

The Aces turned this game around as they went into the third quarter. They won the third quarter 26-13 leading 82-68 going into the fourth quarter. Both Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young started hitting shots and the Aces had all the momentum going on in this game.

Las Vegas really poured it on in the fourth quarter. Wilson continued to completely dominate this game finishing with 53 points. It was simply another amazing game from Las Vegas. We have seen these second half dominations and they are not done with a few more games left in the season.

Las Vegas only had nine turnovers, so great ball protection. The two teams were close when it came to points from the floor; the Aces had 50.7% and the Dream came in with 49.3%. When you look at the stats these two teams seemed, by the numbers, to be pretty evenly matched. It was the play by A’Ja Wilson that put this game on ice.

Aces post game notes: They dropped their last game last Saturday losing to the Los Angeles Sparks 78-72 in a crazy low scoring game. The Dream continued their losing streak extending it to 14 straight games to the Aces. Las Vegas bounced back with a win. The Aces embarked on a four game road trip that begun in Atlanta Tuesday.

Thursday evening the Aces will meet the Chicago Sky, still playing on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Aces Drop a Tough One To Los Angeles 78-72

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The final score says it all as the Las Vegas Aces drop their fourth loss of the year to the Los Angeles Sparks at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sat Aug 19, 2023 (@LVAces image)

Aces Drop a Tough One To Los Angeles 78-72

By Barbara Mason

Saturday the Las Vegas Aces (28-4) took on the Los Angeles Sparks (13-18) at Michelob ULTRA Arena and dropped their fourth loss of the season to the Los Angeles Sparks 78-72, the Aces who rarely loose have lost three of their last seven games. They had a slow start while the Sparks came out with a lot of energy. Los Angeles won the first quarter 24-15.

Las Vegas came around in the second quarter winning it 21-18 but trailed going into the half 42-36. They had made up a little ground and they typically crank things up in third and fourth quarters. We have seen them close out up many games this season in the second half.

The Sparks put up some nice early offense in the third quarter and with under six minutes left in the quarter had taken a 50-40 lead. The Aces had some work to do.

Los Angeles kept the heat on in the fourth quarter. Their offense was crushing it and their defense was giving the Aces all kinds of trouble. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the game, the Sparks had taken a 72-65 lead and showed no signs of letting down.

They have improved significantly since the start of the season and they also have been thriving in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas was forcing turnovers but they were having trouble turning some of them into points.

It’s in these tight games that the team is really missing Candace Parker who is out indefinitely after having surgery for a fracture in her left foot. There were less than two minutes left on the clock and the Aces trailed 72-70. With 30 seconds left in the game, the Aces fouled, the Sparks scored, took a 74-70 lead, and it was all but done for Las Vegas. This was their first season loss at home.

Las Vegas was only shooting at 35% from the field and 25% on three’s. They struggled from the get-go while the Sparks came out strong from the start of the game. Los Angeles was shooting almost 53% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. They outplayed the Aces throughout most of the game. Los Angeles is fighting for a playoff spot so they have a lot to play for going forward.

This was a very low scoring game for Las Vegas who typically scores in the neighborhood of the mid-nineties. This is not the time of year that you want to fall off offensively. A’Ja Wilson had a great game despite the loss with 25 points and nine rebounds which was the high score for the Aces. Layshia Clarendon had the high for the Sparks with 22 points.

Aces post game notes: After finally figuring out the Liberty, the Las Vegas Aces (28-4) were looking to finishing off the season on a high note. There are eight games left in the regular season and they will meet New York one more time in late August. The Aces have clinched a playoff spot as has New York. It seems right now that Las Vegas has met their match in the Liberty.

Las Vegas will have a few days off before heading to Atlanta to play the Dream this coming Tuesday. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 PM.

Aces Blister Atlanta 93-72; Clinch playoff birth with win in Vegas

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

All for one and one for all as the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their win over the Atlanta Dream and move into the post season clinching at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Aug 1, 2023 (@LVAces photo)

Aces Blister Atlanta 93-72

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the Las Vegas Aces (24-2) took on the Atlanta Dream (14-12) at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Las Vegas has been having another “dream” season. There are only 15 games left in the regular season and the Aces have their sights set on another post season run that will hopefully end with a second title. That dream continued with the Aces 93-72, 21 point win over the Dream.

The Dream challenged Las Vegas in the first quarter. Atlanta led for the first three minutes of the game coming out strong in the opening minutes. The Aces turned the slow start around tying up the game 8-8 at 7:08. The two teams remained close for the remainder of the quarter. Las Vegas took a five point lead in the final minute of play and led after one quarter 25-22.

The Aces began to pull a bit of a lead winning the second quarter 29-21 and leading at the half 54-43. Las Vegas has been a second half team all season. The second half is when they typically pull out all the stops and they would need that against this feisty Atlanta team that refused to back down.

The Dream won the third quarter 16-15 but still trailed 69-59. Atlanta kept plugging away and a minute into the fourth quarter, the Aces lead had been cut to seven points 69-62. Las Vegas turned that around in record time taking a 75-62 lead.

As the fourth quarter wore on, the Aces got this game under control leading 80-62 with four minutes left in the game. The Dream called a timeout when this game began to go south but there was no stopping Las Vegas. This game had turned into a real nightmare for the Dream. The final was 93-72.

Las Vegas powered their way through the fourth quarter. Jackie Young finished the game with 24 points and A’Ja Wilson had 20 points and 11 rebounds. The high for the Dream was Cheyenne Parker with 19 points.

The Aces will take on a tough team in the New York Liberty next Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM.

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

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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.

Las Vegas Finishes Off the Dream 118-95

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

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.

Dream turns Aces’ finale into a nightmare 93-78 loss

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

ACESDREAM 1q
Atlanta led 20-19 after the first quarter Photo: @LVAces

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Las Vegas Aces (14-20) knew the game on Sunday was their last game of the 2018 season. The Aces had been eliminated from the playoffs on Friday night in Dallas. They hoped to put on a good show for the crowd in their finale and keep the Atlanta Dream from earning a double bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The Aces did put on a good show for the fans–at least for three quarters–but they came up short on their plan to beat the Dream. Atlanta (23-11) beat Las Vegas 93-78 handing the Aces their 20th loss of the season.

The Dream held just a 64-62 lead at the end of three quarters. It looked like the Aces were well positioned to make a run to win the game in the final quarter, but it was not meant to be. Atlanta outscored Las Vegas 29-16 in the final period and ran away with the game. When the final buzzer sounded, the Dream had won the game 93-78 and earned a double bye to escape the single elimination games in the playoffs.

ACESDREAM 3rd
The Aces trailed by just two points after three quarters Photo: @LVAces

“Games like this are always tough,” said Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer in his postgame comments. “You get eliminated from the playoffs and have to go out there and find the motivation to keep working. We are professional basketball players, so I told the team before that we are going to play a lot of people tonight.  I want to compete – to win the game – and for the most part, I think we did for a half. We came out in the 3rdquarter and you could see we just didn’t have it anymore, mentally, they didn’t put forth the effort to win the game. [Atlanta] needed it badly, they did the job, they got the win.  I told [the team] after the game – be proud of this year, it was a great year for the Las Vegas Aces. We launched a franchise.  We competed and showed who we were – individually and collectively – and our franchise and our fans got to come out and enjoy a great product and a great sport, and MGM did a wonderful job launching this franchise. So, I told them to be proud of themselves.  Yeah, we didn’t make the playoffs, but we are really looking forward to next year.”

Aces Postgame Notes

  • A’ja Wilson put up 21 points to score in double figures for the 33rd time to start her career. She also scored 20-plus points for the 18th time in 2018.
  • Dearica Hamby–14 points–posted double figures for the 12th time this season.
  • Kelsey Bone scored nine points, which was one off of her season-highs.
  • The Las Vegas Aces won six more games (14 to 8) this season than they did as the San Antonio Stars in 2017.

Atlanta Postgame Notes

  • The Dream finished the season with a franchise record 23 regular season wins.
  • Elizabeth Williams led the Dream in scoring with 20 points–her 14th double-digit scoring game of the season.
  • Renee Montgomery posted 16 points and dished out a season-high nine assists on Sunday.
  • Atlanta’s record is now 16-3 when they score 80-plus points in a game.
  • The Dream swept the season series with the Aces.