LAS VEGAS (May 17, 2024)—The Las Vegas Aces (1-0) continue their season-opening, four-game homestand, Saturday, with a 12 pm PT tip against the Los Angeles Sparks (0-1) on ABC.
The Aces celebrated their 2023 WNBA Championship in the season opener on Tuesday, receiving their championship rings and raising their championship banner to the rafters, while upending the phoenix Mercury (0-1) 89-80. A’ja Wilson recorded a 30-point, 13-rebound double-double, in the victory, while Jackie Young added 23 points, and Kelsey Plum chipped in 19 (box score/recap).
It was the 14th career 30-plus point game for the two-time M’VP, which is the most in franchise history. That performance came in front of a record-setting Michelob ULTRA Arena crowd of 10,419.
The Sparks opened the 2024 campaign dropping a 92-81 decision to the Atlanta Dream (1-0), Wednesday evening (box score). Tied at 76 entering the fourth quarter, the Dream outscored the Sparks 26-15 in the final period to pick up the win. Rhyne Howard scored 10 points in the fourth, while Los Angeles made just 4 of 21 shots from the field over the last 10 minutes of play.
Kia Nurse (23 points), and Dearica Hamby (20) paced the Spark in scoring, while Layshia Clarendon posted an 11-point, 10-assist, 10-rebound triple-double. Hamby added a game-high-tying 14 rebounds for LA.
Sparks’ rookies Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson scored 11 and 7 points respectively in their WNBA debuts.
Las Vegas is 45-54 all-time against Los Angeles (view all-time results). The Aces won 13-straight games against the Sparks before LA picked up a 78-72 victory in the final regular season meeting of the year between the clubs last season.