Tag: Los Angeles Sparks

A’Ja Wilson Leads Aces Past Sparks For Third Win This Season 96-81

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates after a play against the Los Angeles Sparks in first half action at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Fri May 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–It got a bit shaky in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter but the Las Vegas Aces (3-2) were able to beat the Los Angeles Sparks (2-5) 96-81 with some nice closing possessions.

Aces points leader A’Ja Wilson was brilliant with 35 points and 13 rebounds for her 103rd double double. Wilson continues to amaze. Jackie Young finished with 26 points and Chelsea Gray had 15 points and four rebounds. They improved their season record to 3-2 with this win.

Game recap: It was a bit of a slow start for both teams but started to really build steam as the quarter wore on. By the end of the first quarter, the Aces had taken a 28-21 lead. Las Vegas would build on that lead winning the second quarter 29-21 taking a 57-42 lead at the half.

The Aces after having outscored the Sparks in the first and second quarter continued on this path winning the third quarter 23-17 and leading 80-59 going into the fourth quarter. There was without doubt more energy in this game than the Aces have seen all season.

After three quarters Wilson had scored 25 points. She had her 103rd double double in this game with ten rebounds along with the 25 points and with still one more quarter left in the game. The defensive energy from Las Vegas in this game was really amped up, a prelude of good things to come for the Aces.

The Sparks got a jump on Las Vegas outscoring them 11-4 mid-way through the quarter but they had a lot of ground to make up and were fighting to make this game interesting. After letting a 20+ point lead shrink to a 14 point lead, the Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon called a time out after Los Angeles went on a 9-0 run.

The Sparks continued to shrink the Aces lead and with 3:50 left in the game the Aces were hanging onto a ten-point lead after leading by more than 20 points. Las Vegas had to tighten it up and they did exactly that pushing their lead back out to 14 points 90-76 with 2 1/2 minutes left in the game. When the game got a bit shaky for Las Vegas they hunkered down and took care of business winning their third game of the season 96-81.

The Sparks fought to make a move mid-way through the fourth quarter but fell short. Four of their starters scored in double digits. Kelsey Plum had the team high with 17 points. Dearica Hamby, Odyssey Sims and Azura Stevens all had double digits.

The Aces had a breakout game with Wilson finishing with 35 points and 13 rebounds. Young was also terrific with 26 points and Gray had 15 points and four rebounds.

Game notes: Friday night the Aces hosted the Sparks at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The temperature outside was sizzling with a high of 103 degrees but inside the arena the Aces were cool and primed to advance their season record.

The Aces has suffered a couple of loses to the defending champion Liberty and also to the Storm. They will be meeting the Storm this Sunday for a little payback. They will first be looking to get past the Sparks in Friday night’s game.

The Aces have not had the best start but the two losses were against last seasons champs and also a very solid Seattle Storm. They have gotten slow starts in seasons past and Friday night’s game is pivotal after a few weeks in the 2025 season. They came into this game after getting beaten pretty soundly by the Seattle Storm 102-82 last Sunday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

The Aces will now hop on a plane for a re-match with the Seattle Storm. Both teams have identical 3-2 records. Las Vegas will be looking to bring the same kind of energy that won this game for them Friday night.

The Aces defensive effort was their best so far this year and they will be looking for a whole lot more Sunday afternoon. TIp-off for this game is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Climate Pledge Arena.

Las Vegas Aces Return to Form Beating Los Angeles Sparks 87-71

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The Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (50) gets her shot blocked by the Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sun Aug 18, 2024 (photo by Las Vegas Aces)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (17-9) struggled through the first quarter against the Los Angeles Sparks (6-21) but began to turn it all around in the second quarter. It was full speed ahead as the fourth quarter wore on as A’Ja Wilson and the Aces put the hurt on the Sparks. Wilson celebrated another double double finishing with 13 rebounds and 34 points.

Game recap: Her focus was to slow down the Sparks and she was more than convincing getting stop after stop. They had really turned yesterday’s loss around playing some solid ball in today’s game particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Las Vegas just could not get on top of this game in the first quarter and the game was tied after the first ten minutes of play at 21. The Aces started to turn it around in the second quarter taking a 44-37 lead at halftime winning the second 23-16.

Las Vegas has been typically a second half team and they did win the third quarter 20-16 extending their lead 64-52. They had really turned this game around with discipline and tenacity something they had been lacking against New York Saturday.

The Aces were dominating from beyond the arc and A’Ja Wilson kept this game in hand in the paint making her presence known throughout the game and with less than six minutes left in the game had yet another double double with 11 rebounds and 27 points.

She was all over the court keeping this game in check. The fourth quarter saw Las Vegas take a stranglehold on the game and while the Sparks continued to fight, the Aces refused to let their foot off the pedal. Any move that Los Angeles made was answered by Las Vegas throughout the fourth quarter and with less than three minutes left in the game the Aces had an 82-68 lead. The final was 87-71.

It was a frustrating loss for the Sparks who managed the game fairly well in the first half but came apart in the second particularly in the final minutes of the game. Las Vegas surged in those final minutes and there was no stopping them. A’Ja Wilson finished with 13 rebounds and 34 points. Kelsey Plum had 18 points and Jackie Young had an improved game with ten points although we have seen a lot more from her and that is yet to come.

Game notes: After a loss Saturday to the Liberty, a pretty convincing Liberty win 79-67, the Aces turned around and beat the Sparks at Michelob ULTRA Arena Sunday afternoon. The Aces got back into the form that they had just prior to heading over to Paris for the Olympics. Saturday’s loss was tough, the team was just out of sync. The Aces had a slow start to the season but had really turned it on after the first few weeks of the season really amping it up playing some impressive basketball.

Wednesday evening the Aces will have their hands full with back to back games against the Minnesota Lynx the first game in Las Vegas and the second game Friday night in Minnesota. Las Vegas winning those games could shake up the standings at bit although there is still a lot of basketball still to be played.

This will be a challenging assignment for the Aces and they will need all hands on deck. There is no doubt they have the talent to pull this off. It all begins this Wednesday evening as the series gets underway with tipoff scheduled for 6:30 PM. This game will air on ESPN.

Aces Drop a Thriller to Sparks 97-93 In Overtime Ending a Six Game Winning Streak

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Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson, left, and Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin collide during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (12-7) six game winning streak came to an end Friday night losing to the Los Angeles Sparks (5-15) 97-93 at Crypto.com Arena. The Sparks led for most of the game and Las Vegas just fell apart in overtime. The fourth quarter was a crazy ten minutes of basketball with the Sparks hanging onto this game.

Los Angeles came up with some great defense throughout the game and Las Vegas trailed for too much of the game. Dearica Hamby had a terrific game for the Sparks in the win. A’ja Wilson finished with 35 points and 12 rebounds unable to push the Aces over the top.

Game recap: There is nothing a struggling team enjoys more than playing spoiler and the Aces would have their hands full with the Sparks. This game was a close one after the first ten minutes of play with the Aces leading by a basket 24-21.

Los Angeles came into the game with a lot of energy playing in front of their home crowd. Mid-way through the second quarter this game was tied at seven in a low scoring defensive quarter. When the dust had settled on the first half of this game the Sparks had not only won the quarter 25-12 but had also taken the lead 46-36. The turnovers were troublesome with the Aces committing six to the Sparks one turnover. Las Vegas had a lot of work to do in the second half.

The Sparks continued to extend their lead and with 7:50 left in the third had taken a 15 point lead 53-38. Los Angles was playing with a lot of confidence keeping the defending champs contained and with 6:07 left in the quarter the starters came back on the floor looking to make this game manageable going into the final quarter. Las Vegas was fighting to climb back into this game. After three quarters Los Angeles continued to hang onto the lead 70-60.

As of late Las Vegas has been a fourth quarter team and with under six minutes left in the game the Aces trailed by a couple of points 74-72. Las Vegas came alive with 5:25 left to play taking a one point lead 75-74.

This was still anyone’s game and the Aces would have to dig deep to come out with a win. With under two minutes left in the game it was all knotted up at 81. The Sparks got a technical and Kelsey Plum made the free throw and it was Aces ball.

With 56 ticks left on the clock the Aces had a one-point lead 82-81, the ball in the Sparks possession. This game went down to the wire. With 16.8 left to play the game was again tied up at 82 as Las Vegas took a time out.

In a beautifully designed play, Chelsea Gray passed the ball to A’ja Wilson who scored under the basket taking the lead 84-82 but with 3.1 this game was hardly over. The Sparks tied up the game and Kelsey Plum took the last shot in regulation a wide open shot for the win missing and this game went into overtime.

With one minutes left in overtime the Aces trailed 92-90. Las Vegas came up just short in the 98-93 loss breaking their six-game winning streak. It was a major disappointment for the Aces. They struggled through the second quarter giving the Sparks a 46-36 lead at the half and despite how close this game was, Los Angeles hung in until the bitter end and walked away with the win.

Game notes: Friday night the Aces lost at Crypto.com Arena to the Los Angeles Sparks who won only their fifth game this season. The Aces dropped their seventh game for the season snapping a six game win streak.

The Aces had been on a roll for quite awhile and showed no signs of backing down. Kelsey Plum has had a couple of terrific games in their wins against the Mystics Thursday night and against the Fever last Tuesday against the Sparks Plum was second in scoring with 21 points.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces in scoring with 35 points but couldn’t do it all in the loss. Wilson continues to play a key role as does Jackie Young who had 18 points and seven rebounds and Kiah Stokes scored two points and had eight rebounds and has been a defensive wonder.

Chelsea Gray had gotten onboard with three points, three rebounds and six assists. The Aces were firing on all cylinders offensively and defensively before Friday night’s loss to the lowly Sparks.

Sunday afternoon the Aces will take on the Dallas Wings in Las Vegas. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 12:30 as Las Vegas will be looking to get back on the winning track.

Aces Lose Back-To-Back Games Falling to Los Angeles 96-92

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The Los Angeles Sparks guard Lexie Brown (4) celebrates her three point shot in the first half against the Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sun Jun 9, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (5-4) lost their second game in a row for the first time this season to the Los Angeles Sparks (4-7) 96-92. A’Ja Wilson had another high-scoring game with 31 points and 8 rebounds. Kelsy Plum finished with 24 points. Off the bench, Tiffany Hayes had 17 points and 4 rebounds in the loss..

Game recap: Unlike their Friday night contest in Vegas, the Aces got a dynamite start scoring the first 14 points of the game. Leading 14-0 in the first quarter, they seemed to have it all going on but the Sparks fought back.

In the final four minutes of the quarter, Los Angeles went on a crazy run erasing the Aces lead only trailing 26-21 as the first 12 minutes of the quarter came to an end. Las Vegas was unable to protect their 14 point lead and let Los Angeles back into this game.

The second quarter was a see-saw game with both teams fighting for the lead. The Aces were clinging to the lead and at 6:27 this game was tied. Los Angeles took a two-point lead before the Aces tied it back up at 30.

Las Vegas took a two-point lead only to see the Spark tie it back up 32-32 at 3:42. At 2:21 the game was again tied in this wild game. Every time the Aces threatened to extend their lead, Los Angeles had the answer. Las Vegas was having a tough time with the feisty Sparks.

The Sparks won the second quarter 22-18 and at the half, the Aces were clinging to a 44-43 lead. The great start that Las Vegas had was a distant memory and this was a new game. The Aces would be challenged in the second half of play.

Los Angeles took a quick 50-46 lead in the third quarter and Las Vegas took an instant time out at 7:43. The Sparks had not only taken the lead but continued to extend their lead. At 5:37 in the third, Los Angeles had taken a 59-50 lead prompting another Ace time out. The defending champs were in trouble. At 3:05 another time out was taken by Las Vegas as they continued to trail 67-57.

With 6:32 left in the game, the Aces continued to trail, continued to struggle. At 5:25 Las Vegas had pulled to within one point 78-77. They had finally made a move in the second half. The Aces could not sustain the move they had made and the Spark took a 90-86 lead with 1:42 left in the game.

Las Vegas was in danger of losing their first back to back game of the season. The Aces would pull to within two points but fell short losing their second game in a row. The final score was 96-92 as Las Vegas is now searching for answers having lost their last two matchups.

Game notes: The Aces lost a tough game Friday night against the Seattle Storm 78-65 and were looking to turn things around on Sunday down in Los Angeles as they took on the Sparks. The Sparks won their last game against the Dallas Wings 81-72. To no avail the Aces couldn’t finish losing by four points to the Sparks.

Tuesday night the Aces will take on the Minnesota Lynx who are red-hot right now. Las Vegas will be playing at home and will be looking to right the ship. Every team in the league is gunning for them and some of them have had their way with Las Vegas. The Aces will be looking to put a stop to this as they take on Minnesota. With a 5-4 record right now, another loss will drop them to a five hundred mark.

Aces win second straight, top Sparks 89-82

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Las Vegas Aces forward Jackie Young (0) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Sports Radio Service/Shawn McCullough)

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces improved to 2-0 on the season with an 89-82 win over the Los Angeles Sparks at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 22 points.  Young added 11 assists, while Wilson pulled down 10 rebounds.

Kelsey Plum struggled from the field, going just four for 14, but hit three three-pointers for a total of 17 points.

Aces rookie guard Kate Martin played 26 minutes and scored three points.

Former Aces forward Dearica Hamby punished Las Vegas by going 12 for 16 from the field for 29 points.

Guard Chelsea Gray remained out with a lower left leg injury.

The Aces will next play at home on Tuesday against the Phoenix Mercury.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

The Aces shot 42.5% from the field, while Los Angeles shot 51.5%.
Las Vegas went 13 for 31 from three-point range.
The Sparks turned the ball over 17 times.

Game Starters:

C – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 41 Kiah Stokes
F – 7 Alysha Clark
G – 10 Kelsey Plum
G – 0 Jackie Young

Aces Injury Report:

Chelsea Gray, Out, Lower Left Leg

Aces Drop a Tough One To Los Angeles 78-72

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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 Win Fourth Game In a Row Over Winless Lynx 94-73

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The Minnesota Lynx forward Naphessia Collier (24) and the Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) stand side by side for the tip off at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Sun May 28, 2023 (photo from @minnesotalynx)

Aces Win Fourth Game In a Row Over Winless Lynx 94-73

By Barbara Mason

Sunday evening the Las Vegas Aces (4-0) took on the Minnesota Lynx (0-4) getting their fourth win in a row 94-73. The Aces put a real hurt on the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday evening 93-65. The Aces had a great opening quarter in Saturday’s game leading after the first ten minutes 31-13.

Sunday night’s game against the Lynx did not have the blowout first quarter that the Aces saw Saturday although they did lead 24-17 after the first ten minutes. A’Ja Wilson had 12 points in the opening quarter.

Sunday night’s starters were able to sit out the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game giving them a much needed and much deserved break. They needed that break to handle a tenacious Minnesota team lead by Tiffany Mitchell.

At the half the Aces had extended their lead to 50-38.

It took the Aces three quarters to put some distance between themselves and the Lynx. By the end of the third quarter Las Vegas had a 20 point lead 73-53 and had taken control of this game. Both Wilson and Jackie Young had 18 points and Kelsey Plum and bench player Alysha Clark had 11 points.

Minnesota made a run in the fourth quarter pulling to within 14 points. Las Vegas took a timeout with 4:25 left in the game. The Aces wanted to clock their fourth win a row and needed to re-group before finishing off Minnesota.

Whatever was said during that time-out, it sure resonated as Las Vegas put the finishing touches on their fourth win in a row in front of their home crowd 94-73. Jackie Young finished with the high score, 23 points.

The Aces will get a bit of a breather before traveling to Atlanta to take on the Dream Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Explosive Aces Crush Los Angeles 93-65

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The Las Vegas Aces received their WNBA Championship rings on Sat May 27, 2023 before their game against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Ultra Michelob Arena in Las Vegas (@LVAces photo)

Explosive Aces Crush Los Angeles 93-65

By Barbara Mason

The Las Vegas Aces (3-0) took on the Los Angeles Sparks (1-2) Saturday evening with their head coach Becky Hammon back at the helm. Winning their first two games of the season without Hammond was a pure indication of the incredible caliber of talent on this team.

The bottom line is that the suspension of Hammon is over and this team is ready to make a serious run for a back-to-back championship. Winning the first two games of this young season speaks volumes to the character and talent of this team. With Hammon in front of the Aces Bench the Aces absolutely dominated the Sparks 93-65 in Las Vegas.

The first quarter of this game was a far cry from Thursday night’s game which saw the Sparks take a 25-15 lead to open that game. The Aces played with so much heart leading after the first ten minutes 31-13. A’Ja Wilson already had ten points and Kelsey Plum was right on the verge with nine points. The slow start that Las Vegas had in Los Angeles was clearly in the rear view mirror.

Fans in attendance got to not only see an incredible first half of basketball but also the championship ring ceremony and the unveiling of the first WNBA Championship banner for Las Vegas. The glitz and glimmer that we all love about Las Vegas was on full display at Michelob ULTRA Arena Saturday night.

After two quarters the Aces had distanced themselves from the Sparks leading at the half 46-23. They won the second quarter 28-15. Las Vegas had dominated offensively and defensively. They only had four turnovers to the Sparks 12 and the offensive effort was off the charts.

The Aces shot 56% from the field and over 40% from downtown. The Sparks fell short shooting 36% from the field and only 22% from beyond the arc. Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young all had double digits in the half.

The Aces had a real drop-off in the third quarter. They just didn’t have the same energy that they had in the first half. The Sparks won the third quarter 23-20 but had a huge hole to dig out of trailing 79-51.

The Las Vegas starters got a break in the fourth quarter; a well-deserved break. With the incredible depth on this Las Vegas team it doesn’t really matter who is on the floor.

Wilson had the high for the Aces with 23 points and six rebounds. Plum finished with 19 points and Jackie Young had 16 points. The Aces only had eight turnovers to the Sparks 19.

Sunday evening the Aces will take on the Lynx in Las Vegas before heading out on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM as they try to remain undefeated.

Las Vegas Aces commentary with Barbara Mason: Aces tested by Hammons suspension got a passing grade on opening night in Seattle

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Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) pushes through the defense of Seattle Storm guards Jordan Horston, left, and Jewell Loyd, right, during the first half at Mandalay Events Sports Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Seattle. (AP News photo)

Aces Shine Dominating Storm In Season Opener 105-64

By Barbara Mason

This weekend the WNBA regular season got underway with a number of games already played on Friday night. Saturday the defending champs, the Las Vegas Aces (1-0) took the court against the Seattle Storm (0-1). The Aces have had a challenging off-season going back to early 2023.

There have been serious allegations that has certainly cast a dark cloud over the start of the season for this team. Head Coach Becky Hammon will miss the first two games due to a suspension handed down by the WNBA for violating workplace policies. There is still a lot more to all of this than meets the eye. In spite of the distractions of the Hammon suspension the Aces pulled off a opening night victory at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle 105-64.

This has most certainly been a distraction for the Aces as this is only one of many issues they were facing during the off- season. That being said, this opening game is an important one that will shed a lot of light on the entire situation and how this team will handle all of this going forward. There has to be one focus for the team right now and that is their quest for another title.

The opener against the Storm will give the Aces a lot of answers and they will have A’Ja Wilson, the reigning MVP in last years championships, and company divulging the queries that many have right now. With so much spotlight on all of this it’s time to flip the script and turn it in the direction of the game-it’s time to play ball.

As the first quarter came to an end the Aces held an 18-14 lead struggling from the floor but still able to maintain the lead for most of the quarter. Kelsey Plum who had shoulder surgery in the off-season had eight points in the quarter as did Jackie Young.

In the second quarter the Aces turned on the offensive firepower that is their trademark and less than two minutes into the quarter had a 25-14 lead with a lot of game still to be played. With less than two minutes left in the half, the Storm went to the line for the first time in the game.

The Aces distanced themselves from the Storm in the second quarter leading at the half 43-28. Las Vegas had outplayed the Storm at every vantage; rebounding, points in the paint and from the perimeter. The Aces chemistry played a huge part in the second quarter of this game and pushing the lead to 15 Las Vegas continued to extend their lead in the third quarter forging ahead to a 74-48 lead.

Seattle’s Jewell Loyd had her teams high with 15 but she was the only player with double digits after three quarters. The Aces already had four players in double digits and A’Ja Wilson was having an impressive defensive game with 13 rebounds.

The entire Aces starting lineup finished with double digits. In the fourth quarter the Storm had their first second chance basket just indicative of the Las Vegas defensive dominance. in this game. The final was 42 point blowout. The offensive chemistry and the defensive brilliance was just to hot to handle for Seattle.

The Aces had 50 rebounds to the Storm 32, almost 55% from the field and over 60% from beyond the arc. It was about as solid as you could get. A’Ja Wilson clocked her 55th double double, a franchise record. There remained little doubt regarding how the team would play in the absence of their coach Becky Hammond. It speaks volumes of the chemistry that this team has in place.

The Aces will head back in California to take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Aces Back On the Winning Track Beating Sparks 79-73

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Los Vegas Aces gets a six point win on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks for their 14th win of the season on Mon Jun 27, 2022 (@LVAces photo)

Aces Back On the Winning Track Beating Sparks 79-73

By Barbara Mason

Saturday the Las Vegas Aces (14-4) suffered a very tough loss in overtime to the Washington Mystics by a single point 87-86. They were looking to bounce back Monday night against the Los Angeles Sparks (7-11) after two straight losses. In the past two games between the two teams the Aces completely dominated Los Angeles and Monday was no exception as the Aces got a six point win over the Sparks 79-73 in Los Angeles.

The Sparks had a very strong opening quarter topping the Aces 26-21. The Aces would strike back in the second quarter with a 18-7 run and lead at the half 40-36.

This game was a tie after three quarters at 59. The Sparks outscored the Aces 23-19 in the third. Los Angeles went on a 13-3 run and this game was up for grabs.

With 3:03 left on the clock the Aces held a slim 74-71 lead. Las Vegas was tired of losing fighting their way through this very tough Los Angeles team The final was 79-73 in favor of the Aces.

Kelsey Plum was the high for the Aces with 29 points and A’ja Wilson finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Sparks played a great game but came up just short. They showed a lot of determination and played far better than they did in their previous meetings.

Wednesday night the Aces will be trying to get a new winning streak going at the expense of the tough Seattle Storm. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.