Tag: WNBA

Aces Finish Off Sky Winning #14 80-66 – Secure Playoff Berth

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Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) catches the ball after blocking a pass from Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams (1) during the first half at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sun Sep 7, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces (28-14) continued their wild run winning their 14th straight game beating the Chicago Sky (10-32) 80-66 securing a berth in the playoffs Sunday. They have come miles when you look back to the start they had in the 2025 season. It has been a beautiful thing with every player on this team a huge part of their playoff push. A’Ja Wilson finished the game with 31 points in her incredible run.

Game recap: The opening quarter was all Las Vegas. The Aces took an 11-0 lead before the Sky even got up on the scoreboard. After the first ten minutes of play the Aces had taken a 24-15 lead. A’Ja Wilson scored eight points in the first quarter and she was just getting started..

The second quarter was a lot closer than the opener although the Aces did outscore Chicago 19-15. At the half Las Vegas had taken a 43-30 lead. Wilson continued to hit shot after shot and going into the third quarter had 15 points and after three quarters had scored 27 points. Jackie Young was having a solid game with 17 points and the scrappy Chelsea Gray shot for 13 points.

This game went into the fourth quarter and it was clear that the Sky were being outplayed by the Las Vegas Aces. Both teams had shot 85% from the line. The Sky had out-rebounded the Aces significantly 37 to 25; they just were unable to hit shots taken.

The turnovers mid-way through the fourth quarter were horrendous for Chicago with 19 to the Aces eight. Fast break points were clearly in favor of the Aces with 24 points to the Sky’s five. The Sky conceded 22 points off turnovers while the Aces conceded only ten points.

The largest lead of the game for the Aces was 25 points. A’Ja Wilson so far has had five games with 30 or more points. She was on a roll as were her teammates and she raises the bar with every game.

With three minutes left in the game the Aces had kept up a double digit lead in the second half. As this season has worn on head coach Becky Hammon has been able to lean on the bench with Jewel Loyd and Dana Evans having great success.

The run they are currently having right now is a total team effort with everyone contributing. The final was 80-66 and Las Vegas had won their 14th game in a row. They have now won 16 of their last 17 games.

The Sky played well enough with every starter scoring double digits. Rachel Banham and Michaela Onyenwere each scoring 12 points. The remainder of the starters each had 10 points. They just could not handle the experienced Las Vegas squad.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon WNBA fans got another chance to watch the Aces reach their 14th straight win beating the Chicago Sky. Their streak has been amazing after a slow start on the season but now playing like gangbusters beating the very best in the league.

They have been consistent and focused taking each game one at a time playing the best brand of basketball that they can. Everyone of these ladies have been playing lights out and as a unit show no signs of letting down.

Sunday night they faced a Chicago team that played the first half without their ace Angel Reese. She had been suspended for making critical comments about not only her teammates but also the organization more than likely spurred by the horrible season the team is having.

She now has to deal with the repercussions of her comments sitting out the first half of Sunday night’s game but also facing a team meeting in regards to her actions. Reese told the media regarding her teammates,  “settling for the same sh-t we did this year.” “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.

Unfortunately it may be some time before her comments fade and both Reese and the team can move on. She was eligible to play the second half but a coach’s decision had her sit the second half out.

The Las Vegas Aces have now secured a nice spot in the playoffs with two more games left in the season. Las Vegas will face the Sky one more time next Tuesday, this game also being played at T-Mobile Arena. The Aces will finish off the season down in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena. Tuesday’s game with the Sky will tip-off at 7:00 PM as Las Vegas will be in search of number 15.

Golden State Valkyries game wrap: Purple Reign Near Miss For Valkyries 78-72 in loss to mighty Minnesota

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Golden State Valkyries Temi Fagbenie (14) sinking the layup against the Minnesota Lynx at Chase Center in San Francisco in WNBA action Sat Sep 6, 2025 (photo by Mauricio Segura Golden Bay Times)

Purple Reign Near Miss For Valkyries

By Mauricio Segura

SAN FRANCISCO–The Golden State Valkyries’ fans were riding high, basking in yet another sellout crowd and record-smashing attendance at Chase Center, only to watch their team fall just short in a heated, back and forth battle that ended with a 78-72 loss to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.

Even though the Valkyries entered the final minutes within striking distance, it was the scrappy and relentless Lynx, fueled by a season-high 24 points from Natisha Hiedeman off the bench, that delivered the killer blow. Hiedeman rose when it counted most, scoring nine of her 24 in the decisive third quarter and matching Golden State shot for shot whenever the momentum seemed to tip.

Golden State did not go quietly. Four Valkyries scored in double figures, with Janelle Salaün, Iliana Rupert, and Kaila Charles each finishing with 15 points to share team-high honors. Salaün and Charles also battled on the boards, each pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.

Rupert’s shooting touch mattered, knocking down three from beyond the arc and going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Veronica Burton joined them in double figures with 14 points on an efficient 5-for-10 from the field, adding a team-best six assists and one three-pointer that gave her 99 for her career. It was a night that highlighted the balance of the starting unit, which scored 65 of Golden State’s 72 points.

The third quarter proved fatal. Despite Golden State outscoring Minnesota in three of the four quarters, the Lynx dropped a blistering 30-16 edge in the third, shooting 64.7 percent in that frame alone. Hiedeman led the charge with nine points in the period, while Napheesa Collier chipped in a critical 20 points overall.

Jessica Shepard ran the offense beautifully, recording a double-double with 12 points and 13 assists, carving up Golden State’s defense with her vision and passing. The surge turned a halftime Valkyries lead into a deficit they could never fully erase.

For Golden State, there were bright spots. Charles tied her career high with seven made field goals, continuing to thrive by attacking the rim and finishing through contact. Salaün showed her range with three triples, shooting 37.5 percent from deep, while Rupert stretched the floor as well with her own long-range accuracy. Kate Martin gave important minutes off the bench, adding six rebounds that helped keep Minnesota from running away on the glass.

The broader storylines off the court carried equal weight. With 18,064 fans packing the house once again, Golden State closed its inaugural home slate with 22 consecutive sellouts, shattering league records for both average attendance at 18,064 and total fans at 397,408. No WNBA expansion team has ever seized the spotlight this quickly, and the Valkyries have done it with style, energy, and a brand that clearly resonates in the Bay Area.

The Valkyries now sit at 23-19, locked into the sixth seed in the playoff bracket with two games remaining. While the fifth seed is out of reach, the team has already made history by becoming the first expansion team to clinch a playoff berth in its debut season.

The only wrinkle is logistical: Chase Center will be unavailable due to the Laver Cup tennis tournament, forcing Golden State to stage its first-round home games at San Jose’s SAP Center, with Oakland Arena also was floated as a backup option.

So yes, the Valkyries lost this one, undone by a single quarter of hot shooting from the Lynx. But the big picture remains unchanged. They are rewriting WNBA history, proving they belong among the league’s elite, and building momentum that will carry into the postseason. Two more games to sharpen the edges, then a playoff run that will mark the next chapter in an already unforgettable first year.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

Golden State Valkyries become first WNBA inaugural team to make post season defeat Dallas 84-80

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Golden State Valkyrie center Kaitlyn Chen ( (with the ball) looking for some daylight as Chen is surrounded by Dallas Wings players at Chase Center on Thu Sep 4, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Morris Phillips

The Golden State Valkyries (23-18) made WNBA history with their win over the visiting Dallas Wings at Chase Center becoming the first expansion team to make the post season in their inaugural season in a 84-80 win over the Wings at Chase Center on Thursday night.

The Valkyries first season also set another WNBA record for the most wins by expansion team with the most wins at 23 and selling out all of their first 21 home game and counting thus far. The Valkyries had averaged their attendance at 18,064 per game which marks them the highest in the WNBA.

Valkyrie head coach Natalie Nakase also wo the Coach of the Month award in June and forward Kayla Thornton won Western Conference Player of Week. Thornton also represented the Valkyrie at the WNBA All Star game for this year.

The Valkyrie who clinched for a playoff spot will play their first round playoff games at SAP Center in San Jose due to a Chase Center in San Francisco scheduling conflict at Chase Center on either September 16 or 17th. The first game of the playoffs will be on the road on September 14th.

The Laver Cup tennis tournament which was scheduled well before the Valkyries playoffs had been previously played at Berlin, Vancouver, London and Boston. The WNBA tried to get the second playoff game for Sunday. It just so happen the Lavar was scheduled to play the first game of the playoffs. Lavar had first choice and stayed with Chase Center.

Ties and Lead Changes In First Quarter Result In Long Overdue Win by Aces over Lynx 97-87

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Las Vegas Aces A’Ja Wilson (22) drives on the Minnesota Lynx Napheesa Collier (24) first quarter at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas Thu Sep 4, 2025 (Getty photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The opening quarter in this game was a mix of ties and lead changes but the Las Vegas Aces (26-14) really turned it on in the second quarter and never looked back in the second half of play winning the game 97-87 beating the Minnesota Lynx (32-8). This was their 13th straight win over the number one team in the WNBA. A’Ja Wilson had the team high finishing with 31 points.

It was crazy opening quarter of basketball with the lead rotating back and forth in a wildly competitive game. With under a minute left in the first quarter the game was tied at 24. As the quarter came to an end Las Vegas had taken a 26-24 lead.

The Aces were shooting at a 63% clip and the Lynx at almost 59%. The turnovers were kept at a minimum by both teams. Wilson already was shooting in double digit with ten points. This game could not have been closer. Both Wilson and Jackie Young had great starts with Young hitting her first three shots taken which included a couple of shots from the line. After the first ten minutes of play Las Vegas had a slim 26-24 lead.

The Aces came into this game ready and focused as evidenced in the first quarter. Mid-way through the second quarter Las Vegas had a 37-33 lead. The Aces needed more from not only their starters but also from their bench.

Both teams had their foot firmly on the pedal in this hotly contested game. So far Wilson and Young had carried the load for the Aces. After two quarters the Las Vegas Aces had a 47-44 lead. Wilson finished the first half with 17 points and Young with 12 points.

The only Lynx player with double digits was Courtney Williams with 10 points. Both teams had played a pretty clean game with only 6 turnovers for the Aces and 5 from Minnesota. Las Vegas had more bench points, more rebounds as well as more points from the line.

The Aces knew they had to show up for this game and that is exactly what they did. After the horrendous loss back in early August Wilson had said “that will NEVER happen again.” She held true to her word in the first half. The Aces had a nice opening quarter but really picked it up in the second quarter in this action-packed thriller.

The Aces had really put the stops on Napheesa Collier who is the WNBA’s leading scorer who only had seven points in the first half. Las Vegas took a 63-55 lead mid-way through the third quarter as they continued to fight hard.

After taking a pretty nice lead, the Lynx went on a bit of a run cutting the Aces lead to 63-62. The Las Vegas defense faltered in the closing minutes of the quarter leaving the basket unguarded resulting in six points.

This was a break-down they could not afford. The pick and roll was a key play for the Lynx down the stretch. Too many missed shots were really hurting the Aces. Las Vegas did get it rolling as the quarter came to an end taking a 70-66 lead.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Aces needed to pay attention to detail and put a stop to defensive lapses. Two minutes into the quarter Las Vegas had taken a ten-point lead 76-66. The Lynx came roaring back cutting the Vegas lead in half 76-71.

Five minutes into the quarter, the Aces had pushed their lead back out to ten leading 81-71. A time-out was called by the Lynx at 4:42 when the Aces took their largest lead of the game 85-72. Las Vegas hung onto the lead winning the game 97-87 for their 13th win in a row. What an incredible stretch for the Aces.

The Aces Wilson finished with the team high of 31 points. Young had 20 points and Chelsea Gray finished with 13 points. The Aces had to fight in this game defensively and stumbled here and there but did a pretty good job when push came to shove.

This team is headed for a great finish on the season; they are on a high and they want to continue this run next Sunday at home. There were no mental breakdowns in this game as Las Vegas hung onto the lead for most of the game.

Game notes: It’s no secret that the Aces are on an amazing roll right now. They have now won 13 games in a row beating some of the best teams in the WNBA. They for sure have a huge bullseye on their back. There is one team, however, that has made life pretty miserable for the Aces this season and that is the first place Minnesota Lynx (32-8)

They have met three times this season losing every game. Back in mid-June they lost 76-52, a 14-point loss and it just got more lop-sided with every ensuing game. In late July they lost to Minnesota 109-78, a 31 point loss and then a total disaster in early August a blow-out 111-58 giving up a WNBA record losing by 53 points.

It was Minnesota’s biggest road win in history. Thursday night they got a breakthrough with a win over the Lynx. They are playing some of their best basketball of the season but in this game they brought their A-game with little to no room for error. This was the last meeting in the regular season before going into the post-season where the Lynx are highly favored to walk away with the championship.

They have a solid starting roster and shoot equally well in the paint and from beyond the arc. They are a threat from anywhere on the court and the Aces need to get a quick start in this game. They will have their fan base behind them playing at T-Mobile Arena.

The Las Vegas Aces will remain at home taking on the Chicago Sky this Sunday at T-Mobile Arena. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

Valkyries defense locks down Liberty, Temi Fagbenle and Kate Martin lead the way on offense in dominant 66-58 win over the New York Liberty

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Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle (13) celebrates her basket against the New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich (13) at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tue Sep 2, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Lincoln Juarez

SAN FRANCISCO – A second quarter run fuels the Valkyries fourth-straight win and inches them closer to securing a playoff spot in their first season.

On Tuesday night, the Golden State Valkyries hosted the New York Liberty in front of a roaring Chase Center crowd. Sitting 2.5 games back of the Liberty for fifth place in the WNBA standings, this was a big game for the Valkyries to gain some ground in the standings and prove they can match up against the powerful teams in the league. 

In their last meeting, the Liberty came into Ballhalla snuck out a win in a close three-point game, 81-78. 

In the two meetings prior to that in late May, New York overpowered the Valkyries in back to back games in the big apple by scores of 95-67 and 82-77. Tuesday night was a different story as the Valkyries stormed their way to a decisive victory. 

After a slow start, the Golden State offense started to land some shots. Just over four and a half minutes in, Janelle Salaün gave the Valkyries their first lead since the opening bucket. 

The two teams went back and forth trading baskets through the remainder of the first quarter. The Liberty led 18-14 after the first. 

It was all Valkyries in the second, out-scoring New York 26-8 in the quarter. 

Kate Martin led the Valkyries in points at the half with 11 going 3-6 from behind the arch. Sue played a huge role in the big second quarter run that blew the game open. 

Postgame Martin praised the defense, acknowledging the great all around game they played on that side of the floor that allowed the offense to take over the game. 

Head coach Natalie Nakase also credited the defense from Tuesday night, pointing to the communication as the main reason for success. “I think our communication has been elite the last 3 games”, said coach Nakase also noting that Golden State knew “we couldn’t make any mistakes on the defensive end”. 

On the offensive side, four Valkyries tallied double-digit points (Salaün, Fagbenle, Charles, and Martin). The scoring came from up and down the lineup and Golden State put their teamwork and camaraderie on display in their 66-58 win, defeating the Liberty for the first time ever after going 0-3 in their first three games against them. 

The Valkyries look on to Thursday when they host the Dallas Wings with a potential opportunity to clinch a playoff berth. It would be quite the scene if they were able to do it at home in front of their raucous fans at Chase Center.  

At this point it seems like it’s not a matter of if, but when the Valkyries will clinch that playoff spot and become the first team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in their first season. 

Wings vs. Valkyries, Thursday night at Ballhalla. Tip-off at 7:00pm. 

Aces Continue Winning Streak Beating Phoenix 83-61 For Their Ninth in a Row

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Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) takes a fade away shot against the Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Thu Aug 21, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (23-14) won their ninth game in a row beating the Phoenix Mercury (21-14) 83-61. The Aces dominated in all four quarters. The Mercury did get within eight points in the second quarter but that was as close as they got.

A’Ja Wilson had another solid game with a double double and Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Nalyssa Smith each chipped in 12 points. Dana Evans was terrific off the bench with 17 points.

Game recap: The Aces got a great start in Thursday night’s game leading after the first ten minutes of play 23-17. Las Vegas kept their foot on the pedal winning the second quarter 20-12 and leading at the half 43-29.

The Mercury did get a bit of a slow start but later in the second quarter they began to heat up from beyond the arc. At the half, the Mercury had hit five three’s. Phoenix got as close as 8 points but the Aces pushed it back out before the half.

As the third quarter got underway this game became more and more physical. The Mercury had really stepped up their game and the Aces had to retain their momentum and keep the pressure on Phoenix if they wanted to win this game.

A’Ja Wilson already had a double double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. With 51 ticks left on the clock the Mercury were doing their best to chip away at the Aces lead but continued to trail by double digits. After three quarters the Aces were leading 59-46 with one more quarter to go. The Mercury had won the third quarter 17-16 in a very sparse shooting quarter.

Las Vegas had turned up the intensity, keeping the Mercury off-balance and containing the three’s. The Aces had limited the Mercury’s shots from beyond the arc limiting their shooting to 23%. They had played a solid first half offensively and defensively continuing to dominate in the third quarter. The team was a quarter away from an unprecedented milestone.

The Aces showed no sign whatsoever of slowing down in the fourth quarter. With 7:33 left in the game Las Vegas led 68-50. Through 3 1/2 quarters the Aces had only committed 5 turnovers continuing to push the lead, and continuing to dominate.

They were running the Mercury off the three-point line and playing a complete game on both ends of the court tonight. There wasn’t much Las Vegas wasn’t doing. With three minutes left in the game the clock was no friend of Phoenix as they continued to trail 59-78. The Mercury just plain ran out of time and the Las Vegas Aces had won their ninth game in a row. The final was 83-61.

Las Vegas had dominated this games for four quarters, from start to finish and won their ninth game in a row. Wilson as usual led the charge and the entire team answered. Wilson finished the game with a double double with 13 rebounds and 19 points.

Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Nalyssa Smith each had 12 points. Dana Evans was terrific off the bench scoring 17 points. Tonight’s game had boosted the team near the top of the standings.

Alyssa Thomas had the high for the Mercury with 17 points and Satou Sabally chipped in 15 points. They were just not able to match the Aces shooting all night.

Game notes: The Aces are on a crazy ride right now and no matter what is thrown their way, they pull together and ride the challenge out and it has resulted in unparalleled success that has translated into an nine game winning streak with their win over the Mercury.

Thursday night they have their sights on a ninth win. The Mercury are a very good team with long ball threats but the Aces win hoisted the Aces in the standings. There was a lot at stake for both teams going into this game.

The Aces had the advantage of once again playing at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Arena was another sellout and fans were loud and so very proud. After a rough start this season, the Aces are on an incredible journey right now.

It’s now off to Washington for a game with the Mystics on Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 12:00 PM. The Aces will be in search of win number ten.

Aces Battle Back From Ten-Point Deficit Beating Dream 74-72 For Eighth Straight Win

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Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) led the way in scoring with 32 points over the Atlanta Dream at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Aug 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

This had to be one of the toughest battles the Las Vegas Aces (22-14) faced all season beating the second place Atlanta Dream (22-13) 74-72. The game was a collection of lead changes, ties and some very physical basketball.

This game was not decided until the clock ran out. A’Ja Wilson had another amazing game finishing with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Jackie Young also had a solid game with 16 points and seven rebounds. Chelsea Gray had seven rebounds, 11 assists and eight points. The Aces has now won eight games in a row.

Game recap: The Atlanta Dream took a 19-18 lead as the clock ran out on the first quarter in their matchup with the Las Vegas Aces. It had been a really close game in the quarter with this game very slow to evolve.

After the first three minutes of play only three points had been scored in a slow start for both teams. Mid-way through the quarter this game was tied at 7-7. It had been a very low scoring quarter with four ties and both teams trading leads.

The second quarter was another close one with the Aces coming out on top 23-21 taking a one-point lead, 41-40 into the half.

The Aces were able to pull a small lead in the third quarter 48-44 but the Dream tied up the game 48-48 at 6:11. The intensity continued to escalate as the quarter wore on and with 3:35 left in the quarter it was again tied at 52. As the quarter ended the battle had continued with the Aces now trailing by four points 57-61. They had their work cut out for them going into the fourth quarter.

The Dream continued to extend their lead in the fourth quarter going on a 11-0 run taking a ten-point lead 67-57. Las Vegas hunkered and pulled to within two points with a lot of time left on the clock 65-67.

WIth 4:44 left on the clock this game was once again tied at 67. There was yet another stoppage of play in the quarter something that had persisted throughout the second half of play. With 3:22 left in the fourth quarter this game took on a life of it’s own as the clock began to countdown.

As the seconds ticked away, this game turned into a battle of wills and it was the Las Vegas Aces that were winning. With under two minutes left in the game Las Vegas was hanging onto a 72-69 game but the battle was hardly over.

The Dream tied up the game with 1 1/2 minutes left in the game. It all came down to the final seconds and with 15.9 left on the clock, the Aces had a 74-72 lead in one crazy game. In an absolutely amazing battle the Las Vegas Aces realized their eighth win in a row 74-72.

This Aces has improved by leaps and bounds in their past eight games. They fought hard for this win led by the incomparable Wilson along with every one of her teammates.

Wilson finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds another double double for her something that has become commonplace for her. Young had 16 points and seven rebounds. Gray had 11 assists and seven rebounds. They have now won eight games in a row.

Game notes: After beating the Dallas Wings Sunday winning their seventh game in a row, the Aces picked up their their eighth win in a row beating the Atlanta Dream at Michelob ULTRA Arena Tuesday night. Wilson has been on a tear for awhile now and the Aces got more of the same Tuesday night.

Wilson has a terrific cast of support with Young and Gray. Bell had a great game on Sunday coming away with 18 points and 6 rebounds. The Aces is also getting a lot of help from Lloyd off the bench. They hit 18 three’s in that game.

The Dream who are in second place in the league and got upset against the Aces. This game was a huge test for Las Vegas who pulled it off. They were able to contain Allisha Gray who is always a scoring threat. The win Tuesday night was huge for Las Vegas. The Aces beat the Dream back on July 22, 87-72 and have one more game against the Dream in season play on Wed Aug 27 in Atlanta.

Thursday night the Aces will again take the floor at Michelob ULTRA Arena. They will face the Mercury looking for their ninth win in a row. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Aces Shoot Lights Out From Beyond the Arc Beating Wings 106-87

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Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) is fired up after scoring against the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sun Aug 17, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

It was competitive for awhile during the Las Vegas Aces (21-14) game with the Dallas Wings (9-16) but the Aces closed it out big time in the final minutes of the fourth quarter taking as much as a 23-point lead.

The final was 106-87 in favor of the Aces winning their seventh game in a row. Once again A’Ja Wilson was outstanding finishing with 34 points and eight rebounds. Kierstan Bell had an amazing game hitting 6 of 7 from beyond the arc.

Bell had 18 points in the game. Jewel Loyd had 12 points off the bench and Nalyssa Smith chipped in 14 points in a great offensive effort for the Aces. The team had a collective 18 shots of 34 from beyond the arc.

The Wings hung with the Aces throughout the opening ten minutes of play. Despite trailing for a bit in the first quarter, the Aces took the lead 31-27 going into the second quarter. Las Vegas got rolling big time as the second quarter wore on. With 2:13 left in the half, the Aces had taken a 52-40 lead. Las Vegas outscored the Wings 24-17 in the second quarter and took a 55-44 lead into the locker room at the half.

Wilson had a terrific first half with 18 points and 3 rebounds. She had been outstanding from both ends of the floor. Bell had 12 points and Chelsea Gray had 10. It had been another slow start for Jackie Young and Jewel Loyd and they would be looking for more in the second half.

Las Vegas was 100% from the line and 50 % from both the field and from beyond the arc. Through the first two quarters the Aces were protecting the ball well with only six turnovers.

The Wings had two players in double digits at the half. Maddy Siegrist had 11 points as did Paige Bueckers. They struggled from three point land making only 2 of 9. The Aces had made nine of 18 points from beyond the arc.

Las Vegas has come out a bit slow in the third quarter of games recently and they would need more physicality in the second half as well as containing the Wings offense. Young already had three personal fouls which was of some concern.

Dallas also had two starters with significant personal fouls, Luisa Geiselsoder with three and Haley Jones with four. The Wings started to trim the Aces lead to start the third quarter prompting a early time-out for the Aces.

Dallas trimmed the Las Vegas 12-point lead to six points mid-way through the quarter. Leading by only six points, Las Vegas put a stop to the Dallas run taking a 69-57 lead with 4:26 left in the quarter.

Both Lloyd and Young made three’s to stage the comeback. Dallas continued to fight cutting the Las Vegas lead to single digits 75-66. The Aces closed out the quarter taking back a double digit lead 81-66. Las Vegas continued to hit big shots from beyond the arc with Bell hitting 4 of 4 and Lloyd 4 of 6. They had a total of 13 threes.

The fourth quarter got underway with Wilson on the bench something we typically see. They would need her fresh down the stretch. Bell hit her fifth three of the game at 6:28. Dallas continued to hang around cutting the Las Vegas 18 point lead down to 12 points prompting another time-out.

With 4:22 left in the game the Ace had taken a 93-72 lead with Bell hitting three after three finishing with 6 of 7 and 18 points. The Aces win in a strong fourth quarter finish.

This has been an amazing run for the Aces; Las Vegas had won their seventh game in a row. They had hit 18 three’s in their 106-87 win over Dallas. It was a perfect blend of offensive and defensive effort. They have won nine of their last ten games.

Game notes: The Aces are on a roll that’s unequivocal. Ever since they were soundly beaten by the Lynx back on August 2 by the score of 111-58 they have pulled out all the stops playing some incredible basketball. The lop-sided loss to Minnesota didn’t sit well with Las Vegas and they have turned their season around and they did it on a dime.

They have beaten the Valkyries twice in a row, the Storm, the Sun, the Liberty and the Mercury for a six game winning stretch. This afternoon the beat the Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena getting lucky number seven.

A’Ja Wilson has come unleashed and off the bench Jewel Loyd has also been instrumental in this winning streak along with the rest of the team. They have all been playing smart, hard and it is without doubt paying off handsomely.

Today the entire team continued to move up in the standings and have been taking it one game at a time as the wins continue to pile up. It has sure been something special for Las Vegas fans to witness.

Next up for Las Vegas will be another home game; another challenge for the Aces taking on the Atlanta Dream who sit in second place in the league and first place in the Eastern Conference. That game will take place next Tuesday with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 PM at Michelob ULTRA. The Aces will be looking to keep this crazy run going strong and there is absolutely nothing that would indicate otherwise

Aces Beat Liberty For Fifth Win In a Row 83-77

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Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) is jacked over her basket after getting fouled against the New York Liberty forward Kennedy Burke (left) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Wed Aug 14, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (19-14) won their fifth win in a row beating the New York Liberty (21-12) 83-77 Wednesday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena . They trailed for much of the game but really turned this game around in the fourth quarter.

They got the calls they needed in that fourth quarter and drew a lot of fouls to nail this win down. A’Ja Wilson had another double double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Jewell Loyd had the team high with 21 points. The Aces hit 15 free throws in the final quarter.

Game recap: The Aces got a nice start taking as much as a six-point lead in the first quarter. The Liberty took a six point lead late in the quarter and led after the first ten minutes of play 24-20.

The Aces took back the lead in the second quarter when Lloyd hit an open three for a 25-24 advantage and the war between the two teams was on. The Aces began to heat up going on a 9-2 run early in the quarter taking a 30-26 lead.

The Liberty lead the league in points from beyond the arc hitting four so far in this game, the Aces keeping pace also hitting four. At the half the Liberty had taken a 43-40 lead when Leonie Fiebich hit New York’s fifth three of the game with seconds left on the clock in the second quarter.

The Liberty had one player in double digits after two quarters, Emma Meesseman with 12 points. The Aces Wilson had 11 points and six rebounds in the half and Chelsea Gray also had 11 points.

Off the bench, Lloyd was on the verge of double digits with nine points. Las Vegas’ Jackie Young had a slow start and the team would need more from her in the second half. On the sidelines head coach Becky Hammon was heard telling the team to slow down.

Las Vegas would not beat New York playing in a hurry and they needed to keep the Liberty out of the paint. New York was shooting at nearly 53% and had scored 26 points in the paint. The Aces had only scored 12 points in the paint in a very competitive game.

Mid-way through the third quarter, the Liberty took their largest lead of the night 54-47. Lloyd made her fifth of eight threes taking up residence in the corner. Young was really struggling in this game with only three points through almost three quarters.

Despite trailing, Las Vegas was coming up with some great interior defense in an effort to squelch the New York points in the paint. With 2:06 left in the third, Young really rose to the occasion hitting a three to tie up this game at 58 plus a free throw was awarded giving Las Vegas a 59-58 lead.

After three quarters it was about as tight a game that one could imagine with New York clinging to a 63-61 lead. Young had a great late third quarter hitting eight points joining Wilson and Gray with 11 points. Loyd was having a great game leading the team scoring with 18 points.

Las Vegas was able to get some stops to start the fourth quarter trailing by a single point 64-65. Chelsea Gray drew a foul giving the Aces a 66-65 lead. Wilson had a double double early in the fourth with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

With four minutes left in the game it was dead even at 72 apiece. With 2 1/2 left in the game the Aces had a 78-74 lead. A’Ja Wilson does what she does so well and that is draw fouls. She made some critical free throws to extend their lead out to 81-77 with under a minute.

The Aces took the 81-77 lead into the final 19 seconds of the game. The Liberty fouled Jackie Young who took the lead out to 83-77. The final was 83-77 and the Aces had their fifth win in a row beating the second place Liberty. It was an outstanding win for Las Vegas.

The team got the stops they needed to win this game in the fourth quarter. Loyd finished with the team high of 21 points. She was a huge part of this win. The Aces are hitting their stride at just the right time this season.

Wilson had a double double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Young sure turned her game around finishing with 15 points and five rebounds. Gray had 13 points.

Game notes: Wednesday night the Aces beat the Liberty to continue their climb up in the standings. Going into Wednesday night’s game the Aces were holding onto fifth place and New York was in second place.

Las Vegas was also playing another game at Michelob ULTRA Arena to another sell-out crowd and more home court support, a real advantage. The Liberty had to fight off a late flight arrival or rather an early Wednesday morning arrival in Las Vegas.

The Aces will now travel to Phoenix for a matchup with the Mercury. They will be looking for a sixth win in a row with the tipoff scheduled for Friday night at 7:00 PM.

Aces Squeak Past Storm For Third Win In a Row 90-86

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) goes for a lay up against the Seattle Storm’s forward Ezi Magbegor (13) in first half WNBA action at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Aug 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces (17-14) won their third game in a row beating a tough Seattle Storm (16-15) team and moving into a tie with the Indiana Fever for fifth place in the standings at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

At one time in the third quarter, the Aces had a 19 point lead that the Storm slashed tying up the game in the fourth quarter. There had been a huge swing in the game but the Aces fought back and came out with the 90-86 win handing the Storm their fourth loss in a row.

Game recap: The Aces got a nice start to open this game. After the first ten minutes of play Las Vegas had a 23-17 lead and A’Ja Wilson already had nine points. The Arena was really fired up at full capacity. The Aces have an amazing fan base and they are playing a lot of games at home in August which is a great way to finish off the regular season.

Mid-way through the second quarter Wilson had already hit 11 points. They needed to continue to control the points in the paint and so far in this game they were 14-4 in the paint.

The Aces continued to extend their lead and at the half they had continued to dominant and led 47-36 their largest lead of the game. The Aces had out-rebounded the Storm and outscored them in the second quarter 24-19.

Wilson finished the first half with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Chelsea Gray had scored ten points in the half and Nalyssa Smith was having a solid game with six points and seven rebounds. None of the Storm had scored double digits.

Las Vegas had a great start to the third quarter taking as much as a 19 point lead but as the quarter wore on there was a real shift in the game. The Storm systematically chipped away at the Las Vegas lead and when the quarter came to an end that 19 point Las Vegas lead had been cut to a 71-63 lead.

The Storm roared to life in the fourth quarter tying up the game at 75 with just over five minutes left in the game. It was a new ball game. The Aces fought back and began to push their lead back out and with 4:37 left in the game had taken an 80-75 lead.

Las Vegas had to tighten up and they were having some untimely turnovers which really hurt. The Aces were getting possessions but not cashing in on them. This game was going down to the wire. Since the tie the Aces had gone on a 7-1 run.

With only three minutes left in the game the Storm had no choice but to turn their defense up and risk fouling. Seattle had a couple of fouls at the end that turned into four Las Vegas points. With under two minutes left in the game the Aces were clinging to an 86-81 lead.

It was crunch time and Young answered the call hitting a three with 51 seconds left on the clock. The Storm answered back and with 23 seconds left in the game Las Vegas was leading 90-86.

Wilson was playing with five personal fouls in one crazy game. With 5.4 on the clock Seattle’s Brittney Sykes missed an attempted three and that was the ball game. Las Vegas had pulled this game out winning 90-86.

The was a terrific win for the Aces with five players in double digits. The high was Wilson with 29 points and 12 rebounds. Young finished with 26 points and five rebounds. Chelsea Gray chipped in 13 points and Nalyssa Smith with ten. It was another good game for Jewell Loyd off the bench hitting ten points. The Aces are now tied with the Indiana Fever in fifth place.

Game notes: Friday night the Aces battled the Storm in Las Vegas and moved into sole position of fifth place. This was a huge game for the Aces. The finish line for the 2025 season looms in the distance for the Aces.

Wilson was celebrating her 29th birthday and Wilson got a birthday gift for a win Friday night after beating the Storm. The Aces got a win against the Valkyries for a second time in a row last Wednesday 78-72 in San Francisco. Seattle has been struggling losing their last four games.

The Aces will be back in action this Sunday in Las Vegas taking on the Connecticut Sun and looking for their fourth win in a row. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 6:00 PM.