Tag: WNBA

Aces blow out Fever, 87-71

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Photo Credit: WNBA.com


By Shawn McCullough

The Aces ended their three-game road trip with a convincing 87-71 win over the Fever in Indiana.

“Today’s game was a trap game where it‘s the last game of the road trip and they are playing better as of late,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “I thought the starters took care of business.”

Las Vegas finished the three-game road trip 2-1.

“If you told me that we would be 2-1 on this road trip, I would be like ‘I want to be 3-0, but I would take 2-1’,” said Laimbeer.

The Aces had six players in double figures in scoring with Riquna Williams leading the way with 15 points.

“We had to redeem ourselves even after winning in Atlanta,” said Williams. “We didn’t look like ourselves.”

Kelsey Plum scored 14 points and dished out six assists, while Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young also added 13 each.

“We just had to lock in, cut out our turnovers and make defensive stops,” said Young on the win.

With the win, the Aces improved to 19-7 on the season heading home to face the Chicago Sky on Thursday at the Michelob Ultra Arena.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces shot 48.4% from the field.
  • Las Vegas turned the ball over 16 times, while Indiana committed 15 turnovers.
  • Liz Cambage pulled down nine rebounds while adding 12 points.


Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL
Dearica Hamby – Out, left ankle sprain

Aces with big second half, beat Dream, 78-71

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Lass Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) shoots over Atlanta Dream center Elizabeth Williams (1) during their WNBA game on Thursday. CREDIT: Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces bounced back from a tough loss in Connecticut on Tuesday with a come from behind win over the Dream in Atlanta, 78-71.

The Aces trailed by eight at halftime, but rallied to outscore the Dream 38-23 in the second half.

“We turned the defense on [in the second half] and that won us the game,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We need to come out at the start and play harder.”

After just four points on Tuesday night, A’ja Wilson dropped 21 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists.

“Her overall game tonight was very solid,” said Laimbeer. “She knew that it was one of those strange occurrences [Tuesday night] and she needed to help the team tonight.”

“I don’t ever what to play like that again,” Wilson said about Tuesday night’s game. “I knew this game was very important for me and I am glad to have a game like this to showcase myself.”

Dearica Hamby came off the bench to score 20 points, while Liz Cambage added 17.

“Our feet were kind of in the mud in the first half, but a win is a win,” said Hamby.

With the win, the Aces improved to 18-7 on the season heading into their third straight game on the road with a game on Saturday in Indiana against the Fever.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces held the Dream to just 36.1% from the field.
  • Las Vegas outrebounded Atlanta 43-34.
  • Injured guard Angel McCoughtry entered the game in the final seconds of the game to play in front of the fans that she played in front of for so many years.  McCoughtry will not play again this season while rehabbing from a right ACL injury.


Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

None

Aces fall to Sun, 76-62

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Photo credit: Shawn McCullough (Sports Radio Service)

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces three game winning streak came to an end as the Sun beat Las Vegas, 76-62, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

“They [Connecticut] played a hard basketball game and we didn’t,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “The players need to execute a lot better and we need to become a more mentally tough team.”

With the win the Sun won the season series against the Aces, 3-0.

“That’s three games in a row that they got us playing their game instead us playing our game,” said Laimbeer.

Last season’s WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, struggled, shooting just 1 for 15 from the field and finished the game with four points.

She [Wilson] gets in her own head at times,” said Laimbeer of Wilson. “She didn’t have a very good start and she kind of puts her head down. She needs to play through that.”

The Aces were led by point guard Chelsea Gray with 15 points, while both Liz Cambage and Dearica Hamby added 13.

“We struggled with the same thing that we struggled with in the first two games of the series, taking care of the basketball,” said Hamby.

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 17-7 on the season heading into their next game on Thursday in Atlanta against the 6-17 Dream.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces shot just 39.7% from the field, while Connecticut shot 44.8%.
  • Las Vegas was outrebounded 39-30.
  • The Aces have eight more games left in the regular season, five on the road and three at home.


Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL

Las Vegas pulls off a dramatic come from behind win against Washington 84-83

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Las Vegas Aces A’JA Wilson led the Aces with 20 points and a double double against the Washington Mystics on Sun Aug 15, 2021 at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas (image from @LVAces)

Las Vegas Pulls Off A Dramatic Come From Behind Win

By Barbara Mason

June 5th in review: The last time the Las Vegas Aces and the Washington Mystics met was on June 5th and the Aces narrowly won that game by the score of 96-93.

Right now the Aces have a record of 16-6 and the Mystics have a 8-11 record. After their last meeting the Las Vegas Aces were slightly favored to win this game.

Being favored doesn’t always translate into a win as Las Vegas was soon to find out.

Sun Aug 15th game recap: Sunday’s game was a shocker at least in the first quarter. The Mystics outscored the Aces 27-15 and while it did get better in the second quarter Las Vegas was playing at a steep deficit.

At the half the Aces trailed by the score of 50-35 in a first half drubbing. A’ja Wilson had only scored 7 points in the first half and there were no double digits to be had by Las Vegas. On the other hand the Mystics Tina Charles and Myisha Hines-Allen both had scored double digits. Charles had 16 points and Hines-Allen with 10.

The Aces had a lot of trouble getting going in the first quarter and even though they played fairly even in the second quarter they were clearly behind the eight ball in this game, struggling mightily. We have seen them in the past come from behind and win and they would need all onboard to come away with a win in this game.

As the third quarter wore on it became evident that the Aces were in deep trouble as the Mystics continued to pour it on showing now signs of relinquishing the lead. The Aces did outscore the Mystics in the quarter but only by a single point and they would a whole lot more in the fourth quarter to get by Washington.

As we have seen before, Las Vegas began to pour in on in the fourth quarter. There was just under five minutes left in the game and the feisty Aces had pulled to within six points 76-70.

With 4.6 seconds left on the clock Las Vegas took the lead 84-83. A failed shot by the Mystics Ariel Atkins gave the Aces the improbable win.

Las Vegas got a very slow start in this game but they were gangbusters at the end. A’ja Wilson finished with 20 points, Liz Cabbage had 17 and Jackie Young had 14. While it was an amazing comeback, the team does not want to fall behind in a game the way they did in this one anytime soon.

Next up for the Aces will be this Tuesday when they will again take on the Mystics. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Tokyo Olympic Village infected will games continue?; A’s looking to add before trade deadline; plus more

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2021 Tokyo Olympics/NBC Sports logo (image from pinterest.com)

On That’s Amaury’s podcast:

#1 2021 Tokyo Olympics has 14 athletes who have tested for Coronavirus and one South African TV analyst. The captain of the Japanese soccer team Maya Yoshida behind closed doors has said the Olympic Committee should reconsider this is too dangerous. The IOC and the Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga are status quo on the getting the Olympics games played as schedule as there is too much investment in the games to turn back now.

#2 In the last three weeks the A’s have hit a snag they have lost five of their last six series, have slipped from first place to second place now 3.5 games behind Houston. The trade deadline is approaching will A’s general manager David Forst add to the roster and who do you the A’s shopping?

#3 The A’s had a great start at the beginning of the season finishing the first half 12 games over .500, they had consistent starting pitching, a good bullpen now shaky, a line up that produced runs to beat and hold off the opposition in May and June. But now Forst is looking to fill the gaps since the team has slipped and wants to get some players to help out with a recovery.

#4 How relieved are the San Francisco Giants to be getting catcher Buster Posey back and available the team is in need for some hitting and hope that Posey can help out. Back up catcher Chadwick Tromp was handling some of the catching duties in Posey’s absence.

#5 Black female group African American Sports Entertainment Group is behind the big push to get a WNBA team in unoccupied Oracle Arena in Oakland. The group is behind many efforts and hope to be a part of the Coliseum proper and in the event the A’s move they want to see if they can buy and bring the NFL back to the Coliseum.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Wilson, Gray represent Team USA in All-Star Game loss, 93-85

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Photo credit: Shawn McCullough/Sports Radio Service

By Shawn McCullough

LAS VEGAS–The USA Basketball Women’s National Team fell in their first exhibition game against the WNBA All-Stars, 93-85, at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

Team USA was led by Phoenix center Brittney Griner who scored 17 points, while Seattle forward Breanna Stewart added 15.

Aces forward A’ja Wilson scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds.

“Yes, it was an All-Star Game, but we are going to be competitive and compete,” said Wilson. “It’s legit.”

Aces guard Chelsea Gray played almost 18 minutes and scored eight points.

“It was a level up and it felt good,” said Gray about the All-Star Game.

Team USA will play two more exhibition games before heading to Tokyo for the Olympics, Australia on Friday and Nigeria on Sunday.

“The biggest thing is defense and that comes from chemistry,” said Wilson on preparing for the Olympics. “We have a small amount of time to get to know each other, but we’ll get there.”

“We just try to get better and communication will be key,” said Gray.


Aces struggle against Lynx, lose 77-67

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Photo credit: Shawn McCullough (Sports Radio Service)

By Shawn McCullough

The Aces dropped their second straight game in a 77-67 loss to the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

“That’s probably as bad as a game as we played all season,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “Disappointing on our end, they were not there.”

Las Vegas dropped their second game in two weeks to the Lynx after losing 90-89 in Minneapolis back on June 25th.

“They wanted it a lot more than we did,” said Laimbeer. “The effort level that we put out today was not acceptable.”

The Aces were led by guard Kelsey Plum, who came off the bench and scored 18 points.

“We have to be ready from the jump,” said Plum. “We dug ourselves a big hole and it is really hard to get back in the game.”

Olympian A’ja Wilson scored 13 points, while Dearica Hamby added 12 points and nine rebounds.

“We just got a little lazy, standing around,” said Hamby about their offense. “We want to play with pace, but we weren’t really focused and locked in.”

With the loss, the Aces dropped to 14-6 on the season and remain one game behind the first place Seattle Storm.

The Aces will have one final game on Sunday in Dallas against the Wings, before a long one-month break for the WNBA All-Star Game on July 14th and for the Olympics.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

  • The Aces shot just 35.8% from the field, while Minnesota shot 45.3%.
  • Las Vegas has used the same starting lineup for the first 19 games, until tonight since Liz Cambage is currently with the Australian National Team.  She was replaced at center by Kiah Stokes.
  • Current Lynx and former Aces guard Kayla McBride returned for the first time with her new team back to Las Vegas.  She was greeted with a scoreboard tribute during pre-game introductions.


Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 41 Kiah Stokes
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray

Aces Injury Report:

Angel McCoughtry—Out, right ACL
Liz Cambage – Out, Australian Nation Team

Phoenix Upsets Aces 99-90 at Mandalay Bay Events Center

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The Phoenix Mercury’s Brittany Griner (41) is double teamed by the Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson (22) and Kiah Stokes (41) at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Wed Jul 7, 2021 (Las Vegas Review Journal photo)

 Phoenix Upsets the Aces 99-90

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday evening the dominating Last Vegas Aces (14-5) took on the Phoenix Mercury (8-9). The Aces along with the Storm have been the talk of the town with opposing teams just trying to play catch-up in the standings. The Mercury are on a two-game losing streak and the Aces on the other hand have only lost one game of their last ten played.

In last Sunday’s game Las Vegas scored a season high and francise record with 118 points. In that game six players scored in double figures. The Aces have the best offensive rating in the league 107.9. They score an average of 91.8 points per game which is the best in the league. Defensively and offensively this team is on a roll and they have to feel like the best team in the WNBA.

The first quarter would end with a 7-0 Phoenix run leading the Aces 24-20. Jackie Young had the high score in the quarter for the Aces with 8 points. Brittney Griner had the high for Phoenix scoring 10 points.

Mid-way through the second quarter the Mercury had extended their lead to seven points leading 33-26. Late in the quarter the Aces really cleaned up their offense and erased an 8 point lead by Phoenix only to let the Mercury off the hook at the half. The score was 50-43 in favor of Phoenix and Brittney Griner had the high score with 21 points. Her team was shooting over 52% and giving Las Vegas all kinds of trouble.

After three quarters the Aces turned this game around taking the lead 63-58. Las Vegas had outscored the Mercury in the quarter 20-8.

Phoenix refused to go away and with just under two minutes left in the game they led 80-76. The Aces would need to keep their composure if they were going to win this game. It was crunch time for Las Vegas.

With 38 seconds left on the clock this game was tied at 82. The game remained tied and there would be five more minutes to play in overtime. A’ja Wilson was key keeping her team in the game.

The Aces had a tough start in overtime. The Phoenix took a six point lead all of them coming from Brittney Griner. Nine consecutive points for the Mercury and they really had the Aces on the ropes. Las Vegas couldn’t buy a basket in overtime. Phoenix continued to eat up the clock and with two minutes left Las Vegas was looking at their fifth loss of the season dropping them out of first place in the Western Conference.

Everything that could go wrong for the Aces did indeed go wrong in this overtime. Nothing went right for the team. They take on the Lynx on Friday hoping to get back on track. Tipoff is scheduled for Friday at 7:30.

Las Vegas Finishes Off the Dream 118-95

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

Las Vegas Finishes Off the Dream 118-95

By Barbara Mason

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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