Tag: Las Vegas Aces

Aces Handle the Wings After Two Previous Losses 99-84

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) is fired up after scoring against the Dallas Wings forward Jessica Sheppard (right) in the first half at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Thu Jun 25, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

They say third times a charm. In their first meeting back in late May the Dallas Wings (11-7) beat Las Vegas Aces (13-5) 95-87 and in their second matchup Dallas walloped the Aces earlier this month 96-66. Thursday night the Aces figured it out and via a great opening quarter and a terrific finish they finally beat the Wings in a solid offensive and defensive game 99-84.

Game recap: This was the start that had eluded the Aces in their two previous matches with the Wings. They built an early lead by forcing Dallas into some difficult shots. They also got balanced scoring rather than relying on just one or two players. They controlled the pace and took a 28-17 lead into the second quarter.

The fast start for Las Vegas set the tone for this game in one of their best opening quarters of the season. Aggressive defense, efficient shotmaking and controlling the glass forced Dallas to work overtime for most of their baskets in the first ten minutes of play.

In the second quarter Dallas raised its intensity outscoring the Aces but only by a single point 22-21. The Wings were more aggressive attacking the basket putting more pressure on the Aces. Dallas had found more offensive rhythm in the second quarter than they had had in the opening quarter.

The Aces had more turnovers and a number of empty possessions. They did however respond with timely baskets whenever the Wings threatened to make a major run. Las Vegas had a 49-39 lead at the half.

The Wings continued to hang around in the third quarter again outscoring the Aces by a couple of points 24-22 making this game a bit uncomfortable for Las Vegas. This had been the Aces most uncomfortable stretch in the game.

Dallas came into the quarter with a lot of energy putting a lot of pressure on Las Vegas. They continued to attack the paint playing with greater urgency. The Aces offense on the other hand became less fluid and they had fewer easy scoring opportunities.

By the end of the quarter the comfortable lead the Aces once enjoyed had shrunk. They needed to execute in the fourth quarter and avoid letting the Wings make a comeback.

The Wings had chipped away at the lead in the second and third quarters but the Aces did not panic. They came out and executed better in key moments in the final quarter. Las Vegas made timely buckets and the veterans made smart decisions by hitting key shots, getting to the free-throw line or creating great looks for teammates.

They really tightened up defensively with key stops in the closing moments which made all the difference in this game. They kept the Wings from getting too many second-chance opportunities. Las Vegas outscored the Wings in the fourth quarter 28-21 and the final score in the Vegas win was 99-84.

A’Ja Wilson had the high score in this game with 32 points and Jackie Young finished with 20 points. Chelsea Gray had 11 points and bench players Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Keirstan Bell both came away with double digits. Collectively the bench finished with 31 points.

The Wings’ Jessica Shepard finished the game with a double double, 22 points and 14 rebounds. Paige Bueckers had the high for the Wings with 25 points

Game notes: The Aces settled a score with the Wings with their first win after three tries against Wings. Thursday night they found a way to beat the Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena after losing to the New York Liberty Tuesday night.

The Las Vegas offense sputtered at times in that game and the Liberty came in with a solid game plan that they executed to perfection. The fourth quarter in that game saw the Aces threaten to make a come-back but came up just short losing 87-76.

The score that Las Vegas would dearly love to settle Thursday night however was regarding a loss to the Wings on June 15 to the tune of 96-66. It was a most unexpected lop-sided game with the Wings thrashing the Aces.

Las Vegas does remain in second place in the standings with the Dream nipping at their heels in third place. The season is approaching the half-way mark and the Aces got back on track with a win Thursday night over Dallas. The Wings are currently in fifth place in the WNBA.

The Aces will next take on the Chicago Sky at United Center. The game will take place this Sunday June 28th. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 1:00 PM PDT. It will be televised on CBS and Paramount.

Aces Offense Never Gets On Track Losing to Liberty 87-75

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New York forward Breanna Steward (30) goes in for a layup against Las Vegas Aces forward Kierstan Bell (1) and guard Jackie Young (right) the first half at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Jun 23, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

This was not the offense we are used to seeing from the Las Vegas Aces. They got beaten pretty badly at the hands of the rival New York Liberty losing 87-75. The Liberty controlled the pace the entire game. Their defense as well was outstanding. Las Vegas was just off and never really got going the entire game although they did come around in the fourth quarter but it was far to late at that point.

Game recap: After the first ten minutes of play, the Liberty had taken a slim 19-17 lead. The largest lead in the game for the Liberty was seven points. Las Vegas had struggled to make shots early while the Liberty got into its offense early.

The Liberty had forced the Aces into difficult late-clock shots instead of the clean looks they usually get for A’Ja Wilson and Jackie Young. New York had capitalized on Aces mistakes pushing the pace and scoring before the Las Vegas defense could set up. The Liberty had controlled the pace in the first quarter and the Aces needed to turn that around in the second quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, the Liberty continued to control the tempo of the game. With four minutes left in the half, New York had taken a ten-point lead 33-23. The Aces would have a lot of work to do in the second half. New York outscored the Aces in the second quarter 23-16 and took a 42-33 lead into the third quarter.

This had not been a great half for Las Vegas. New York shot the ball more efficiently and they did it early. They got quality looks which allowed them to build an early lead. Las Vegas had a few careless turnovers which the Liberty took advantage of and prevented the Aces from getting into any kind of rhythm.

The Liberty had really disrupted the Aces offense. 33 halftime points is far below what fans typically see from Las Vegas. The Aces were just not shooting well, pure and simple. The Liberty were playing a scrappier game getting more offensive rebounds, loose balls and transition baskets.

While a nine-point deficit is not insurmountable for Las Vegas they do have a lot of work to do in the second half. A’Ja Wilson needed to get more touches in the paint and they needed to limit the turnovers.

Chelsea Gray had to heat up. Jackie Young was the only player on the floor in double digits and A’Ja Wilson finished the half with only six points. A little more consistency from beyond the arc would not have hurt either.

Both teams started slow in the third quarter. Las Vegas was getting stops but was unable to capitalize. The Aces went on a six-point run cutting the Liberty lead to 47-43 four minutes into the quarter.

With under three minutes left in the third the Liberty went on a run taking a 60-46 lead making things awfully difficult on Las Vegas. As the third quarter came to an end the Aces were in deep trouble trailing 67-51. The Liberty were controlling the boards and the Aces couldn’t string stops together. The way that New York was playing Las Vegas had a huge task in front of them in the fourth quarter.

The odds certainly favored the Liberty going into the fourth quarter unless the Aces could put together a huge run. They needed to cut the Liberty lead to single digits early. Las Vegas did have a much improved fourth quarter outscoring the Liberty 25-20 but it was just not enough to come away with a win.

One of the biggest reasons for the Las Vegas loss was their offense that went cold after the first quarter. New York’s defense was outstanding making every shot for the Aces difficult and limiting clean looks which forced them into a very frustrating offensive night.

Going into the third quarter the Aces needed a big run but instead the Liberty increased their lead and put the Aces in a very deep hole going into the fourth quarter. Las Vegas had a very good final quarter but the third quarter was the determining factor in this game.

The Liberty’s Breanna Steward had the game high with 20 points. The Aces Jackie Young had the high for her team hitting 19 points. The only double double of the game went to New York’s Sabrina Ionescu, 16 points with 10 rebounds.

Game notes: Tuesday evening the Aces were back in action taking on the Liberty it just turned out the way the Aces suffering fifth loss of the season. Sunday afternoon the Aces punished the Golden State Valkyries winning the game 92-73 leading at one time in the game by 28 points. Currently the Aces are in second place in the standings, the Liberty in fourth.

The Aces remain at home again playing at Michelob ULTRA Arena in front of a packed crowd. The Aces have seen so many competitive games between these two teams over the years, one of the biggest rivalries in the WNBA.

They have faced each other 62 times over the years with the Aces winning 34 times and the Liberty 28. These two teams feature many of the league’s biggest stars including A’Ja Wilson, Breanna Steward, Sabrina Ionescu and Jackie Young. Nearly every matchup between these two teams feels like a playoff game.

Thursday night the Aces will give it another go. They will take on the Dallas Wings who are hot on their heels in the standings. This will be another home game before they head out on the road. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Aces Crush Valkyries For The Third Time This Season In Collective Effort 92-73

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Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) shoots over the Las Vegas Aces forward Nalyssa Smith (3) and Aces forward-center Brianna Turner (right) at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Sun Jun 21, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

There was not much the Las Vegas Aces (12-4) could not do in their third meeting with the Golden State Valkyries (10-7) winning the game 92-73. The best three-shooting team in the league were held to only five as the Aces held them to 5 of 30. The Aces starters were on fire winning the game with a truly collective effort. This had to be one of the best games played this season by Las Vegas offensively and defensively.

After the first ten minutes of play the Aces had a 32-17 lead. Las Vegas would extend their lead going into the half leading 49-30. This game went completely sideways in the third quarter and when the dust had settled the Aces had 77-49 lead going into the final quarter.

They were on fire and there was little chance of a Vegas meltdown. The Valkyries were unable to contain the onslaught. This game was pretty much a done deal when the fourth quarter got underway.

Game recap: This was a complete team effort. Jackie Young was the first player to exceed 20 points mid-way through the fourth quarter. She was nine of 12 with five minutes left in the game.

A’Ja Wilson was on the brink of a double double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Chelsea Gray had 15 points, Nalyssa Smith with 14. Jewell Lloyd had 11 points off the bench. There was not much the Aces couldn’t do in this one. They have won eight of their last ten games. At one time in this game the Aces had a 28 point lead and they were 46% from beyond the arc.

Las Vegas stuffed the Valkyries offense big time. Valkyrie Kayla Thornton, Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton had two points apiece. The two top starters for Golden State were Gabby Williams and Cecilia Zandalasini with a combined 22 points. The top three-point shooting team, their calling card if you will, went silent for the entire game going 5 of 30. Every mistake the Valkyries made, the Aces capitalized on, they made them pay big time, every time.

Game notes: The Aces are just coming off a win over the Phoenix Mercury on Wed Jun 17th to clinch a spot in the Commissioners Cup Championship that will be played in New York on June 30th. Sunday the Aces beat the Valkyries and it was their third meeting this season.

On May 31 Las Vegas won their first game with the Valkyries 91-81. In the second game it was a much closer game with the Aces coming out on top 84-79. Sunday the Aces picked up their third win against the Valkyie in Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Tuesday night the Aces will be back in action taking on the New York Liberty in Las Vegas. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

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Aces Pull Out All the Stops Beating Lynx 100-97

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Las Vegas center A’ja Wilson (22) is fired up after making a play against the Minnesota Lynx in the second half at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sat Jun 13, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

This was not a game for the weak of heart. The fourth quarter was about as intense as it could have gotten with the lead bouncing back and forth as the seconds ticked away. This game was not decided until the clock displayed 3.5 seconds.

The Las Vegas Aces (10-3) came away with a 100-97 win against the Minnesota Lynx (10-3) at Michelob ULTRA Arena and it was appropriately Chelsea Gray who closed out the game with a couple of free throws for the win. She finished the game the way she has started it.

This highly anticipated matchup should prove to be a real battle as this game got underway. When the dust had settled on the first ten minutes of play the Aces had a 32-21 lead.

This was exactly the start that Las Vegas wanted to see and the task now remained; could they keep the pressure on the Lynx for the three remaining quarters. Chelsea Gray had picked up right where she had left off in their last game hitting four three’s.

Gray was the perfect opening act and there was not doubt that she would be covered like a blanket in the second quarter. Everything was clicking offensively going forward in this game.

The Lynx were able to outscore the Aces in the second quarter 30-25. At the half the Aces continued to lead 57-51 but their lead had been trimmed significantly. Minnesota put the wraps on Gray in the quarter as expected.

She had scored 12 points in the opening quarter and only 4 in the second. Having the hot hand in any game draws a lot of defensive attention and she was getting plenty. With the likes of A’ja Wilson, Nalyssa Smith, Jackie Young and Chennedy Carter plus trying to put the stops on Gray the Lynx did a great job winning the quarter.

The Aces had hit seven three’s in the first half. With less scoring from Gray, Wilson picked up the slack keeping that lead going into the half. The Lynx’s Natasha Howard had a great first half but on the downside she already had three personal fouls as did rookie Olivia Miles who had also been scoring a lot of points.

None of the Aces were in foul trouble in the first half. The largest lead in the game was a 15 point Ace advantage. The second half was gearing up to be a real battle.

The Aces outscored Minnesota in the third quarter by a single point 21-20 and going into the final quarter Las Vegas had a 78-71 lead. The Lynx had turned this game around and had Las Vegas fighting to keep the lead. Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard were a huge part of this turnaround.

Going into the fourth quarter Young had really begun to heat up which made things so much tougher on Minnesota. With under three minutes left on the clock it was a 2 point game 89-87 in favor of Las Vegas.

This game was going down to the wire and the Aces needed stops and buckets. This was anyone’s game and Minnesota had some crazy momentum going. It would be a wild finish as the Lynx continued to trail the Aces by a basket 91-89.

With 48 seconds left in the game the Lynx had taken their first lead 94-93 since the first quarter. Las Vegas took a brief lead when Jewell Lloyd hit three free throws. The lead bounced back and forth and with 20.5 seconds left on the clock the Aces had a 98-97 lead.

This game would come to an end pretty much the way it had started: with Gray hitting a couple of free throws and the Ace’s had won the game 100-97. Gray and her teammates had pulled out an amazing win.

This was just another wild nail-biter we have seen this season from the Aces. Their tenacity and discipline along with their skill has served them well. Wilson finished the game with a double double, 24 points and ten rebounds.

Gray was amazing hitting 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. She finished with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Young had 16 points and 10 assists. Smith had 15 points and 6 rebounds, Las Vegas had 11 three’s in this game.

The Lynx put up quite a fight in this game and very nearly beat the Ace’s. Losing this game had to have been a terrible disappointment considering the three incredible quarters they played. They completely turned the game after the first quarter and had a very real shot at winning this game. Olivia Miles the Minnesota phenom had the high for the game with 29 points.

Game notes: The Aces right now are tied for first place and have been playing some outstanding basketball. With the win over the Lynx on Saturday the moved into a head to head tie as both team have identical records after the Aces won on Saturday night.

It is still early in the season but the standings are tight with five teams fighting to climb into the top spot that the Aces and Lynx occupy at the moment. Saturday night the Aces moved into the first spot sharing it with Minnesota.

Las Vegas has been steadily improving as we have finished over a quarter of the season. The incomparable A’Ja Wilson reached another milestone nearly a week ago in their game with the Seattle Storm becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 points doing it in 278 games.

She led her team last Thursday with 32 points in their win over the Portland Fire. Chelsea Gray had 29 points in that game and along with Jackie Young these three ladies are tearing up the court. Nalyssa Smith has also been terrific gobbling up rebounds and scoring double digits.

In Saturday night’s game but there is no doubt they had the fire power and defensive excellence to take care of business. Gray finished with 23 points, Young had 16 points and Smith finished with 15 points.

After this thriller, the Aces will have a day off to catch their breath before heading to Dallas for a matchup with the fifth place Wings Mon Jun 15th. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00PM PDT.

A’Ja Wilson Reaches 6000 career points as Aces Defeat Storm 101-91

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A’ja Wilson became the fastest player to 6,000 points in Aces vs. Storm win. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images

By Rich Perez

Monday evening the Las Vegas Aces (8-3) defeated the Seattle Storm (3-10) 101-91. It was the A’Ja Wilson show. She finished with a double double, 34 points and 12 rebounds. She has won countless awards and tonight in the fourth quarter another accolade for Wilson. She reached and surpassed 6000 career points and she is the fastest athlete to have reached that mark in the WNBA.

Game recap: Monday night the Aces will be looking to hold down that second place spot and even make a move on the first place Lynx. The Storm outscored the Aces in the first ten minutes of play 25-23 but the Aces got going in the second quarter and with under three minutes left in the half Las Vegas had taken a ten point lead 46-26.

A’Ja Wilson had already scored 20 points and the team was protecting the ball well with only five turnovers. Their largest lead of the game had been 11 points. The Storm rallied in the final minutes of the first half cutting the Aces ten point lead to five 46-41. As the clock ran out in the first half the Aces had a 50-43 advantage. They had outscored the Storm 27-18 in the second quarter.

It had been all Wilson in the first two quarters of play. The Aces did have a bit of a slow start in the first quarter but they remained close due to the 12 points scored in the first quarter by Wilson. At the half Wilson had scored 21 points with six rebounds.

She was also two of four from downtown. She was running the show in the first half. Nalyssa Smith chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds. The strong start that the Storm came in with was buried by Las Vegas in the second quarter.

As the third quarter came to an end the Aces had outscored the Storm 22-16 and led 72-59 taking their largest lead of the game. The fourth quarter could be yet another milestone for A’Ja Wilson who needed one more point to reached 6,000 points.With 4:45 left in the game Wilson reached and surpassed 6000 career points.

The Storm outscored the Aces in the fourth quarter 32-29, but were unable to catch Las Vegas. The Aces won this game 101-91.

A’Ja Wilson finished with the game high of 34 points and a double double with 12 rebounds. At the half the team needed more from Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray and that’s just what they got. Young finished with 29 points and Chelsea Gray had 12. Nalyssa Smith also had a solid game coming very close to a double double with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The high for the Storm was Dominique Malonga with 19 points.

Game notes: Monday night the Aces picked up another home win as they beat the Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Aces were coming off a win over the Golden State Valkyries Saturday night 84-79 in a real nail biter that was not decided until the final seconds of the game. Seattle has been struggling losing Saturday night to the Lynx 88-68. Currently the Aces are holding down second place in the Western Conference.

Next up for the Aces will be the Portland Fire this Thursday night at Moda Center. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Las Vegas Aces/WNBA game wrap: Aces Beat Tenacious Valkyries In Final Seconds 84-79

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Las Vegas Aces forward Jackie Young (0) takes a run on the floor against the Golden State Valkyries Janelle Salun (13) and Kalla Charles (6) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sat Jun 6, 2026 (Las Vegas X photo)

By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces (7-3) won their game with the Golden State Valkyries (6-5) 84-79 after trailing with seconds left on the clock. In the third quarter each team scored 20 points and it was the fourth quarter that closed this game out for the Aces.

This game was uncomfortably close with 38 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter. The Aces pushed back took the lead 82-79. A’Ja Wilson closed this game out with two free throws for the final score of 84-79.

Game recap: The Aces took a 20-13 lead in the first ten minutes of play. The Valkyries made up some of the difference in the second quarter outscoring the Aces 22-18 in the second quarter. At the half it was a very close game with Las Vegas leading 38-35.

This game could not have been any closer as the third quarter came to an end. Each team had scored 20 points in the quarter with the Aces still hanging onto a three-point lead 58-55. It was anyone’s game going into the fourth quarter.

Las Vegas led by as much as 12 points in this game but the tenacious Valkyries refused to go away fighting back for the entire game. The Aces outscored Golden State in the fourth quarter 26-24 winning the game 84-79.

The difference in this game was A’Ja Wilson and Jackie Young. Wilson had a double double scoring 28 points with 14 rebounds. This was her third consecutive double- double and her fifth this season. Jackie Young really rose to the occasion scoring 27 points and was red-hot from beyond the arc hitting six of eight shots.

This was their first home win this season. Chelsea Gray had a terrific game scoring 12 points, with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The Aces have now won three games in a row; they have really started to play some great ball. This is the Aces second win over the Valkyries beating them last Sunday in San Francisco the score 91-81.

Las Vegas was without Chennedy Carter who missed her second consecutive game with a left leg and hip injury. She collided with an opposing player in a game with the Valkyries in San Francisco last Sunday causing her to fall on her hip.

Carter has been nothing short of amazing and the team really needs her. It was hinted that she would return last week against the Sparks but it didn’t happen. There has been no announced timeline for the return of Carter but it hopefully will be in the near future.

The Valkyries are currently in seventh place in the standings and they got some great work from Gabby Williams who scored 27 points. Veronica Burton scored 15 points and Kayla Thornton got so close to a double-double with ten points and nine rebounds. The Valkyries will continue to nip at the heels of the Aces, the Dream and the Wings. They had an amazing inaugural season and look to be even better this season.

Game notes: The Aces are having a solid season and right now they are sitting in second place tied with the Dallas Wings in the Western Conference. The Golden State Valkyries are in fourth place a game and a half behind the Aces.

Saturday’s matchup with the Golden State Valkyries had all the makings of a very competitive game. The Valkyries Gabby Williams 28 points and Veronica Burton 15 points . On the other hand the Valkyries dealt with the incomparable A’Ja Wilson who led Vegas with 28 points as well as Jackie Young 27 points and Chelsea Gray with 12 points. This game was decided by five points as the Aces stayed ahead of the Valkyries on Saturday.

Next up for the Aces will be a matchup with the Seattle Storm at home Monday night. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM. With such a quick turnaround chances are that the Aces will not be seeing Chennedy Carter as they await her return to the court.

Golden State Valkyrie game recap: Valkyries held the low card against the Aces and lost 91-81, Sunday Afternoon inside another sold out BallHalla

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Las Vegas Aces Brianna Turner (21) tries to pass after a rebound defended by Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) and Kiah Stokes (41) in the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Golden State Valkyries (5-3) received a second half beatdown, 91-81 from the defending champion Las Vegas Aces (5-3) in the City by the Bay Sunday at Chase Center.

The Aces got on the board first to begin the contest. After that, there were four ties and three lead changes within the first ten minutes of the game. Gabby Williams (8) and Jackie Young (7) led their respective teams to a two point first quarter finish, with the home team up by two, 23-21.

The second stanza produced two additional ties and nine lead changes. However, the margin after two quarters was the same two points, but in the reciprocal form with the visitors in the lead, 43-41.

At the half, Williams (10) was the Golden State player in double-figures, while the Aces had two hoopers. A’ja Wilson scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, and teammate Jackie Young added ten points.

The second half would be all Aces, which would be awesome in many card games, but the Sin City team parlayed that into an 18-point lead during the third period, and as much as 24 in the fourth quadrant.

Despite those vast leads, the Valkyries continued to fight back. Williams continued to lead the way for Golden State (12) in the third quarter, but the defending champs were keeping the team by the Bay at bay at that point in time. After 30 minutes of WNBA action, the Valkyries trailed by 18 points, 72-54.

Despite being behind by three touchdowns and a field goal, the Valkyries displayed strong pride and cut the deficit to single digits multiple times late in the game. Even with thal valiant effort, Las Vegas eventually won the game by 10 points, 91-81.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 20 points, while Janelle Salaun offered 16 points, and Kayla Thornton put up 12 points. The Ace were led by superstar A’ja Wilson’s 28 points and 15 rebounds. Jackie Young contributed 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while NaLyssa Smith chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds.. Stephanie Talbot also tallied ten points and seven rebounds.

The victory for the Aces evened both teams’ records (5-3) and maybe previewed an eventual playoffs battle in the future.

The Valkyries will next be in action Tuesday, June 2, as they host the expansion Portland Fire at 7 PM PT on KMAX/KPIX+. The Aces will head down to Southern California, on the same date, taking on the Sparks at 7 PM PT on The Spot.

Kelsey Plum and the Sparks Hand Aces Second Loss of the Season 101-95

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Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) drives on the Los Angeles Sparks forward Park Ji-hyun (6) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sat May 23, 2026 (Las Vegas Aces X photo)

By Rich Perez

The last game that the Las Vegas Aces (4-2) was a wild affair winning that game by a single point and Saturday night’s game was more of the same. The Los Angeles Sparks (3-3) gave Las Vegas all they could handle winning the game 101-95. Former Ace Kelsey Plum was outstanding scoring 38 points with ninth rebounds. The Aces A’Ja Wilson had a double double finishing with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Game recap: The Sparks came out in the first quarter with a lot of energy. Las Vegas would be facing former team-mate Kelsey Plum and she sure did show up with four three’s made in the opening quarter.

She finished the quarter scoring 14 points. As in the Aces last game Chennedy Carter coming off the bench was on fire hitting 10 points in 8 minutes. The two teams traded leads with the Sparks leading much of the time and when the quarter came to an end the Sparks had a 32-30 lead. This game had all the makings of a real barn-burner.

Much like the opening quarter the second quarter was equally competitive, both teams jockeying for the lead. The game remained tight with four points being the largest lead for both the Aces and the Sparks.

The three’s were flying, the Sparks hitting seven and the Aces hitting six. Despite the 11 turnovers, the Sparks were giving the Aces the fight of their lives. When the first half came to an end, the Aces had outscored the Sparks 22-14 in the second quarter and took a 52-46 lead into the half.

At 7:42 in the third quarter the Aces took their largest lead of the game 57-48. Just when Las Vegas started to put a little distance between themselves and the Sparks Los Angeles rallied back taking a 58-57 lead going on a 10-0 run prompting an Aces timeout.

With seconds left on the clock in the third, the Aces were hanging onto a 71-70. After three quarters this game could not be any tighter with the Sparks outscoring the Aces in the quarter 26-21.

The Aces took a slim 73-72 lead into the fourth quarter. It would all comes down to the final quarter in this aggressive, fierce and impassioned game. Which team would have the determination and discipline to pull this game out?

The Sparks took an early fourth quarter lead 80-73 a minute into the quarter and the Aces had some work to do. Las Vegas was missing far too many shots trailing by six points 82-76 with just under six minutes left in the game.

With 5:30 left in the game Las Vegas rallied trailing by a single point 81-82 sending the arena into a wild frenzy. This game was reminiscent of the Aces last game against Atlanta. It was nothing short of amazing with A’Ja Wilson and Chelsea Grey’s will to win obvious in the final minutes.

This game was tied at 90 with three minutes left in the game. The Aces came up just short in this game. With 29.7 left in the game Los Angeles had a 99-94 lead. The many missed shots by Las Vegas down the stretch in the fourth quarter were looming large as Las Vegas faced their second loss of the season. The Sparks had pulled this game out 101-95 for the victory.

Las Vegas had some nice numbers from A’Ja Wilson who finished with a double double, 24 points and 15 rebounds. Nalyssa Smith finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds and bench player Chennedy Carter shot for 23 points. The Aces came up just short in this game. They missed a few too many shots down the stretch in the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum had the game high with 38 points and 9 assists.

Game notes: It has been a minute since the Aces took the court, their last game played in Atlanta five days ago in a real nail-biter that saw Las Vegas win in the final seconds 85-84. Chelsea Gray made the go-ahead jumper with 3.6 seconds left on the clock for the win. Saturday night the Aces lost at Michelob ULTRA Arena to the Sparks. The Sparks last played Thursday night against the Phoenix Mercury winning that match-up 97-88.

Next up for the Aces will be a matchup with the Dallas Wings next Thursday night. Los Vegas will be on the road for this game. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM and can be viewed on Prime Video.

WNBA Finals: Aces Take 2-0 Series Lead Beating Mercury 91-78

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Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) is fired up after making a three pointer in second half action against the Phoenix Mercury in game two of the WNBA Finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas Sun Oct 5, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

After an extremely close game one, the Las Vegas Aces (2-0) took it to the Phoenix Mercury (0-2) dominating them in the second game of the series winning by the score of 91-78. The Aces had taken more than a 20 point lead during the fourth quarter.

Las Vegas played three amazing quarters after a slow first quarter. Jackie Young had the game high with 32 points and eight rebounds, A’Ja Wilson finished with a double double 28 points and 14 rebounds.

Chelsea Gray came so very close to a triple double with 10 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. Las Vegas takes a 2-0 series lead into game three in Phoenix next Wednesday.

Game recap: Much like Friday’s game the Mercury got a hot start leading 7-0 before the Aces even got up on the scoreboard. Phoenix took as much as an eight point lead before the Aces started to chip away at their lead.

With 3:39 left in the first quarter the Aces had tied the game at 16 going on to take their first lead of the game 18-16 with 3:17 left on the clock. This opening quarter was played at a feverish pace by both teams and after the first ten minutes of play, the Mercury had a 27-24 lead.

Las Vegas came into the second quarter red-hot. They erased the Mercury’s lead taking a 38-33 lead at the four minutes mark. Phoenix had taken as much as a 31-24 lead before the Aces started to really cook.

A’Ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray were instrumental in the turnaround. Wilson scored nine points in an 11-0 run by Las Vegas leading 38-33 with under four minutes left in the half.

The Wilson-Gray connection continued through the rest of the quarter. It was a 20 point half of basketball for Wilson she had outscored Phoenix in the quarter all by herself. At the half the Aces had a 46-37 lead. The Aces had an amazing defense in the second quarter and combined with the brilliance of Wilson Las Vegas was rolling.

Each team had eight turnovers in a highly competitive first half of basketball. There had been a 17 point swing in the first two quarters thanks to Wilson who had been unstoppable in the second quarter.

Both Jackie Young and Gray were on the verge of double digits and they had both laid a lot of the groundwork for Wilson. The Aces would be looking to take this momentum into the second half of play.

The Aces took several double digit leads throughout the third quarter. Despite that, this game was hardly over as Phoenix cut the 12 point Las Vegas lead to eight 55-47 six minutes into the quarter.

Both of these teams have the ability to erase opposing team leads in a flash. At 2:35, however the Aces took their largest lead of the game 65-51. Both Young and Gray had double digits, Young with 28 points.

Young had 19 points in the third quarter so far. Going into the fourth quarter the Aces had a 76-61 lead and Young had a new WNBA finals record with 21 points scored in the third. She finished with 30 points through three quarters. The Aces now had to take care of business in the fourth quarter and close this game out.

The Aces effort in the fourth quarter was off the charts. They pushed their lead over the Mercury to 22 points 83-61 at 8:44. Las Vegas was on a mission and there would be no stopping them.

The Mercury fought back cutting the Aces 22 point lead to 15 with a 7-0 run but they would not be able to overcome the deficit. The Las Vegas offense pushed their lead back out to 90-71 with 5:44 left on the clock.

The Mercury fought a good fight and did cut the Aces lead to 12 points 90-78 with under two minutes left in the game but the Aces held on without Wilson on the floor winning game two 91-78 taking a 2-0 series lead.

This was without doubt the Wilson, Young and Gray show. They rose to the occasion and played some beautiful basketball on both ends of the court, in fact the entire team was outstanding. It was a total team effort through three quarters.

The bench was on the quiet side but when one struggles, someone on the team picks it up something that has made them so very successful. Young had the game high with 30 points and eight rebounds. Wilson had a double double with 28 points, 14 rebounds and Gray came close to a triple double with ten points, ten assists and eight rebounds. Lloyd had nine points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Game notes: The atmosphere was electric at Michelob ULTRA Arena as the Aces took on the Mercury in game two of the WNBA Finals. In Friday’s game one the Aces despite trailing for much of game one came away with the win 89-86 in a hotly contested game. They came on strong in the fourth quarter outscoring the Mercury 22-15 which was the turning point in that game.

The Aces got their starters to step up but also their bench which was solid in game one. Jewell Loyd finished that game with 18 point but Dana Evans had an amazing game scoring 21 points. The Las Vegas bench was a huge factor in the win to start off the series. The Aces took game two for a 2-0 lead in the series before they head to Phoenix for games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Friday nights.

The Aces now take their 2-0 series lead into Phoenix for game three. That game will be played at PHX Arena next Wednesday with tipoff scheduled for 5:00 PM. The Aces will be looking to take at least one game of the two games played in Phoenix and bring a 3-1 lead back home to Michelob ULTRA Arena.

WNBA Finals: Aces Bench On Fire – Leads Las Vegas to Win Over Mercury 89-86 In Game One

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Phoenix Mercury forward Aylssa Thomas (25) drives on the Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) in the first half at ULTRA Michelob Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Oct 3, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (1-0) trailed for much of this game but remained within striking distance for most of it ultimately beating the surging Phoenix Mercury (0-1) 89-86. The Aces bench was amazing with Dana Evans hitting 21 points.

She was 5 of 6 from downtown and 8 of 13 from the field. It was a fight from start to finish with Las Vegas closing out the game in the final seconds. Game two promises more of the same.

Game recap: The opening quarter was all Phoenix to start taking a 15-8 lead in the early minutes of the quarter. It was exactly the start that Phoenix was looking for. At the three minute mark the Aces begin to pick away at the Mercury lead.

With 50 seconds left on the clock the Aces tied up the game at 21 and as the opening quarter came to an end the tie remained.

The score remained close in the second quarter. with both teams trading leads. The Mercury began to take a bit of a lead in the latter minutes of the quarter and with 1:19 left in the half had a 50-42 lead over Las Vegas.

Kahleah Copper was having an amazing game hitting 5 of 6 from downtown shooting for 19 points in the first half. Phoenix had a 50-45 lead at the half outscoring the Aces 29-24 in the second quarter.

25 of the Aces points scored in the first half came from some stellar play off the bench. Jewell Loyd hit 13 points and Dana Evans had ten.

Wilson finished the half with nine points and Young had eight. They would be looking for more in the second half. They would need to really step it up to keep up with the surging Mercury. Wilson, Young and Gray had to push their limits in the third and fourth quarters.

The third quarter got underway and in a flash, the Aces scored the first six points of the quarter and Las Vegas had a 51-50 lead. The Mercury responded with a 7-0 run taking a 57-51 lead. Both of these teams were shooting around 50% from the field and the Aces had only turned the ball over four times.

The Mercury were also shooting at 50% from beyond the arc most of those shots coming from Copper who also had shot well from the field hitting 7 of 9. Gray took a hard hit in the quarter when she collided with Copper who received a flagrant foul type 1.

Gray who fouled while attempting a three successfully hit all three free throws tying up the game at 57. Gray would go to the locker room after the successful free throws and would return with her leg taped.

The Mercury took a 66-57 lead with under four minutes left in the quarter. Phoenix’s Sami Whitcomb took a terrible hit that sent her to the locker room for evaluation. She was able to reach the locker room with help.

The Aces were getting close throughout the quarter but were unable to take the lead . Every time they threatened the Mercury pushed right back continuing to hang onto the lead. Going into the fourth quarter, Phoenix had a 71-67 advantage.

The fourth quarter got underway hot and heavy with each team hitting a three but Phoenix continued to lead 74-70. Dana Evans hit the Aces seventh three of the game and Las Vegas trailed by a single point 76-75.

With 4:21 left in the game it was all tied up at 82. With 3:37 left on the clock Dana Evans hit her 5th three of the game giving the Aces an 85-82 lead. She had been spectacular all game. With seconds left in the game the Aces had a one-point lead 87-86.

Young was fouled with 13.6 seconds left in the game and made both free throws giving the Aces an 89-86 lead which turned out to be the final. The Aces had won an unbelievable opening act in this series.

The Las Vegas bench was outstanding collectively scoring 41 points. Evans had the high on the bench with 21 points. Wilson also had 21 points and ten assists. Loyd finished the game with 18 points. Young chipped in ten points in this hard-fought win in game one. The Aces protected the ball well in the game with only seven turnovers.

The high for the Mercury was Copper who scored 21 points. She scored 19 of those points in the first half was only able to hit one basket in the entire second half. The Mercury played an amazing game but were unable to close out the game at the end.

Game notes: Friday evening the Las Vegas Aces began their most important series of the 2025 season taking on the Phoenix Mercury in game one of the WNBA finals. The Aces will be looking for a third championship in the past four years. The Mercury are in the finals for the first time since 2021 and after upsetting the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semi-final series will be looking to pull off another upset and take home the title.

The Aces have a far different vision with the amazing Wilson leading the charge and Young, Gray and Lloyd along for the ride. This game has all the makings of an amazing championship series between two of the best teams the WNBA has to offer.

With the series getting underway at Michelob ULTRA Arena the Aces start the series with the first two games at home. They will had the support of their fans and it was enough to really spark them to a win in this first game of the series.

The Aces will now try to take a two-game lead before going back to Phoenix for game three. Game two is scheduled to get underway this Sunday with tipoff at 12:00 PM in Vegas. Game two can be seen on ABC TV.