Tag: WNBA
Aces rebound with win over Phoenix, 85-79
By Shawn McCullough
The Aces bounced backed from a home loss to Los Angeles with an 85-79 win over the Mercury in Phoenix.
“Overall, it was a very solid team effort,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “A good win all the way around.”
Guard Jackie Young had a career high 27 points, going 10 for 15 from the field.
“I am glad that Jackie had a good day,” said Laimbeer. “She came back today with a vengeance with a career high for her.”
“She is consistent and she is getting better and better every game,” said forward A’ja Wilson about Young.
Wilson added 16 points along with nine rebounds, while Chelsea Gray scored 15.
“We just executed,” said Wilson. “We understood that this would be a dogfight.”
With the win, the Aces improved to 3-2 on the season heading into their next game on Friday at home against the Indiana Fever.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 44% from the field.
- Las Vegas pulled down 11 offensive rebounds.
- The Aces got only eight points off the bench.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces rally late, come up short to Sun, 72-65
By Shawn McCullough
After a strong performance on Friday against Los Angeles, the Aces came out flat and lost to the Connecticut Sun, 72-65, at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
“We had players that didn’t get on track,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “Our energy level just wasn’t there.”
“We lacked energy and some lacked effort too,” said A’ja Wilson.
The Aces shot just 21.4% from the field in the first quarter, scoring just eight points.
Las Vegas also wasn’t able to take care of the ball, committing 14 turnovers.
“Some of our turnovers, they were just throwing the ball away,” said Laimbeer.
A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 14 points, while Chelsea Gray added 13.
“I’m human, I am going to miss shots,” said Wilson after shooting 4 for 13 from the field. “I just need to produce in other ways.”
With the loss, the Aces fell to 2-2 on the season and will next play the Mercury in Phoenix on Wednesday, before returning back home on Friday to face the Indiana Fever.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot just 40.7% from the field.
- Las Vegas was out-rebounded by the Sun, 44-26.
- Forward Jackie Young was just 2 for 9 from the field for four 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 roll over Sparks, 97-69
By Shawn McCullough
The Aces played their first game of the season in Las Vegas, beating the Los Angeles Sparks 97-69 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas got balance scoring from its starting lineup with five players in double digits, led by former Sparks guard Chelsea Gray with 18 points.
“Once we got on a court, it’s team against team,” said Gray. “As a competitor, you want to win against the team that you left.”
Center Liz Cambage record a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Dearica Hamby each added 17 points.
“That’s who we are,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer on the team’s balance scoring. “We have so many weapons offensively. You can’t set your defense for any one player.”
In her third season in the WNBA, Jackie Young continues to improve her game.
“I am just trying to do whatever I can to help my team win,” said Young.
In the first three games of the season, A’ja Wilson is averaging 19.7 points per game.
“Three games in, I am please of where we are so far, but we still have a long ways to go,” said Wilson.
With the win, the Aces improved to 2-1 on the season heading into their next game on Sunday against the Connecticut Sun at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 53.2% from the field, while holding Los Angeles to just 36.5%.
- Las Vegas out-rebounded the Sparks 44-28.
- Guard Kelsey Plum missed her first of likely six games while away playing for USA Basketball’s 3 on 3 team.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces win first game, 96-80, over the Storm
By Shawn McCullough
The Las Vegas Aces got their first win of the 2021 season in a 96-80 win over the Storm in Seattle.
The Aces fell in the season opener against the Storm on Saturday, but came out much more focused in the second game.
“Every game, the last thing that I put on the board is ‘have fun’,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “The last game wasn’t fun for us, but today it was clear that they came from the start and was engaged mentally.”
Jackie Young led the Aces with 21 points and 10 rebounds, with both A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage adding 18.
“I really just tried to go out there and be aggressive,” said Young. “I am just trying to go out there and help my team win.”
“Jackie [Young] just showed a little glimpse of what she can do,” said forward Riquna Williams. “It is just the beginning.”
The Aces starters accounted for 78 of the 96 total points with only 18 points coming off the bench.
With the win, the Aces improved to 1-1 on the season heading into their next game on Friday at home in Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Sparks.
“It will be good to see some people who I spent some great years there with,” said Chelsea Gray on facing her former team on Friday.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 53.6% from the field and went 6 for 15 from three-point range.
- A’ja Wilson, Liz Cambage and Jackie Young combined for 29 rebounds.
- The Aces snapped a four game losing streak to the Storm.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces fall to Storm in opener, 97-83
By Shawn McCullough
The new look Las Vegas Aces lost their season opener to the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm, 97-83, in Seattle, WA.
“It was a good first game for us to get our feet wet, but this is one that we know is a learning experience,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.
The Aces had just one starter, A’ja Wilson, who was in the starting lineup last season.
“We have been playing with each other for maybe a week,” said Wilson. “It’s just team chemistry. We need to come together.”
Wilson finished the game with 24 points and five rebounds.
After sitting out the 2020 season, center Liz Cambage returned to the Aces and added 16 points.
“I had a lot of jitters tonight and I came out a bit nervous,” said Cambage. “I want to do my best for this team.”
Former Los Angeles guard Chelsea Gray made her Aces debut, scoring seven points.
Guard Jackie Young moved into a starting role this season going 6 for 15 from the field for 12 points.
With the loss to Seattle, the Aces have now lost four straight games to the Storm dating back to last season’s WNBA Finals.
Las Vegas will next have a rematch with the Storm in Seattle on Tuesday night.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 43.8% from the field and went 3 for 12 from three point range.
- Las Vegas turned the ball over just six times.
- The Aces scored just 14 points in the second quarter.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Will Hurricane stop Monday Night Football in New Orleans?; Titans and Bills game moved up to Tuesday; plus more
The Tennessee Titans have up to at least 20 staff and player personnel who have contracted Covid-19. The game between the Titans and the Buffalo Bills has been moved up to Tue Oct 13th. (photo from CNN photo file)
On Headlines podcast with London:
#1 The New Orleans Saints have been working with the NFL in the event of Hurricane Delta hits Southeastern Louisiana. The Saints say their making contingency plans as they plan to host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.
#2 The Tennessee Titans who are under investigation from the NFL as to how 20 members of the team ten players and ten personnel staffers contracted Covid 19. The league is looking into Covid-19 protocol violations. The Titans will play the Buffalo Bills on Tue Oct 13th.
#3 The Titans have not practiced or played since Sun Sep 27th and their game scheduled this Tuesday against the Bills could prove to be more than just Covid on their minds not playing or practicing for two weeks how out of practice will the Titans be?
#4 London talk about how suceessful having the NBA and WNBA playing their games in a bubble in Lake Buena Vista Florida has been and how they pulled it off without no major outbreaks or interruptions.
#5 The San Jose Earthquakes won another critical game last Wednesday at Earthquakes Stadium against the Vancouver Whitecaps. After going winless in nine games the Quakes now have won three straight games. They play in Portland this Sunday and a win could improve their record to 5-6-5 and are in tenth place in the Western Conference.
London does Headline Sports podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com
Aces season ends, swept in WNBA Finals in 92-59 loss
By Shawn McCullough
The Aces storybook 2020 season came to an end as the Seattle Storm beat Las Vegas, 92-59, at the IMG Bubble in Bradenton, FL.
“It was very obvious that they have more weapons than we do,” said Laimbeer. “It was clear that they were the better team in this series.”
The Storm swept the Aces in three games in the best of five series for the WNBA championship.
“It hurts right now for our players,” said Laimbeer. “I have been down this road numerous times, winning and losing in the Finals, but they beat us.”
WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 18 points and six rebounds while guard Jackie Young added 11.
“Seattle is a championship team,” said Wilson. “It hurts, but you learn and you grow from it.”
The Aces played the entire season without center Liz Cambage and guard Kelsey Plum. Cambage opted out for the season and Plum went down with an Achilles injury. In addition, the Aces lost forward Dearica Hamby for the Finals with a knee injury.
“We have a very sound nucleus of eight or nine players that are very solid,” said Laimbeer. “We have a solid future right now.”
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot just 34.4% from the field.
- Las Vegas turned the ball over 18 times.
- Forward Angel McCoughtry is now 0-12 in WNBA Finals games.
- Seattle forward Breanna Stewart was named the Finals MVP.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 35 Angel McCoughtry
C – 4 Carolyn Swords
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 3 Danielle Robinson
Aces unable to slow down Storm, fall 104-91; Seattle leads series 2-0
Photo credit: WNBA.com
By Shawn McCullough
The Seattle Storm shot 57.1% from the field and dished out a WNBA Finals record 33 assists in a 104-91 win over the Las Vegas Aces at the IMG Bubble in Bradenton, FL.
“They are a very fine basketball team,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “They made the plays when they had to make the plays and they got some good performances from some of their players.”
WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Emma Cannon came off the bench and scored 17.
“We need to take care of the basketball,” said Wilson. “If we communicate and take care of the basketball, we are right there.”
The Aces turned the ball over 15 times in the game.
Three Storm players finished with over 20 points: Breanna Stewart (22), Alysha Clark (21), Natasha Howard (21).
“That’s why they’re at where they’re at,” said Laimbeer. “Everybody knew coming into this that they had a full contingent with quality players.”
Down 2-0 in the best of five game, the Aces have their backs against the wall heading into game three on Tuesday.
“It ain’t over,” said Laimbeer. “We have been in win or go home now twice, we are 2-0 and we expect to be 3-0.”
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 52% from the field.
- Las Vegas was eight for 19 from three-point range.
- The Aces out-rebounded the Storm, 34-26.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 35 Angel McCoughtry
C – 4 Carolyn Swords
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 3 Danielle Robinson
Aces drop game one of WNBA Finals, 93-80
By Shawn McCullough
The Aces just couldn’t match the Storm duo of Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird as Seattle beat Las Vegas 93-80 at the IMG Bubble in Bradenton, FL.
“A lot of things didn’t go right for us today,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “We struggled to score, we struggled to make shots.”
Stewart finished the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds, while Bird had a WNBA Finals record 16 assists.
“I thought that she [Stewart] played very well,” said Laimbeer. “Once her shots start going in, she is going to start knocking in a bunch more.”
The Aces rallied back in the third quarter from 19 down, but couldn’t maintain their intensity in the fourth quarter.
“We worked so hard to get back in that game in the third quarter,” said Laimbeer. “I think it took a lot of gas out of us.”
The Aces were led by forward Angel McCoughtry who scored 20 points, while A’ja Wilson added 19.
“We have been in this situation before and we are in a good position,” said McCoughtry. “We can’t hang our heads. We will adjust for next game.”
“We are in the Finals,” said Wilson. “We have to give it our all and leave it there with no regrets.”
The Storm now lead the best of five series 1-0 heading into game two on Sunday.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot just 35.1% from the field, while Seattle shot 50%.
- Las Vegas was 10 for 21 from three-point range.
- The Aces out-rebounded the Storm, 39-37.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 35 Angel McCoughtry
C – 4 Carolyn Swords
G – 21 Kayla McBride
G – 3 Danielle Robinson
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