LAS VEGAS (August 18, 2023)—Although there are 9 games remaining in the WNBA regular season, the Las Vegas Aces find themselves standing on the doorstep of history Saturday, when they host the Los Angeles Sparks at 12 p PT on ABC. The Aces bring a 28-3 record into the weekend, which ties them with the 2000 Sparks for the best record in league history through 31 games. A Las Vegas win would improve the team’s record to 29-3, which would best the 2000 and 2001 Sparks (each 28-4) for best record through 32 games, and tie the 2014 Phoenix Mercury for the most wins in a season in WNBA history (29-5).

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The Aces have their sights set on a number of other WNBA records this season.

Although records are nice, the primary goal for any team is to win the WNBA Championship. Following the Aces 88-75 win over New York Thursday, Las Vegas has a 4-game lead over the Liberty in the race for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with 9 games to play. The Aces have already locked up home court advantage in the first round of the postseason.

The Aces starting lineup features a quartet of All-Stars led by two-time M’VP A’ja Wilson. The 6th-year veteran is vying for her third M’VP Award, ranking 4th in the league in scoring (21.2 ppg), 2nd in rebounding (9.6 rpg), 7th in field goal percentage (.547), 11th in steals (1.39 spg) and 1st in blocks (2.10 bpg).

Chelsea Gray, who recorded her second career triple-double, and the first point-rebound-assist triple-double in franchise history Thursday, is looking to become the second player in league history to post a 50-40-90 season—shooting 50 percent or better from the field (.500), 40 percent or better from 3-point range (.448) and 90 percent or better from the free throw line (.919). She also ranks 3rd in the league in assists per game with what would be a franchise record 7.0 per game should she maintain that figure through the end of the season.

Kelsey Plum is also taking a run at 50-40-90, making 48.9 percent of her field goal attempts, 39.4 percent of her 3-pointers and 91.5 percent of her shots from the charity stripe.

Jackie Young, meanwhile, is making 47.7 percent of her shots from 3-point range, and challenging the league records for highest 3-point field goal percentage by a player taking at least 150 threes (.453, Maya Moore), and 200 threes (.420, Kelsey Plum).

The Sparks enter the weekend on a 3-game winning streak, and winners of 5 out of their last 8, moving them into a tie for the 8th and final playoff spot with Chicago (12-18).

Los Angeles’ success this year has come primarily on the defensive side of the ball, where it allows the fourth fewest points per game (81.3 ppg). Opponents are making just 31.8 percent of their 3-pointers against the Sparks, and Los Angeles boasts the second best defensive rebounding percentage in the W (.734).

Nneka Ogwumike paces the Sparks offense, averaging 19.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. She is also among the league leaders in steals per game with 1.66. Jordin Canada is LA’s lead ball distributor, averaging 6.1 assists per game, and she is second in the WNBA in steals, averaging 1.96 per game.

The Aces have won 13-straight against the Sparks, which is the longest active streak by one team against another in the WNBA. Las Vegas’ 3 wins this season against LA have come by an average of more than 17 points per game, and Wilson and Young are each averaging 20+ points per game against the Sparks in 2023.

NEXT UP

Las Vegas takes to the road for 4-straight games beginning with a Tuesday, Aug. 22 meeting with the Atlanta Dream. They then head to Chicago (Aug. 24), Washington (Aug. 26) and New York (Aug. 28).