GAME RECAP: Aces Erase 16-Point Deficit to Top Wings, 92-84 And Clinch A Spot In The Commissioner’s Cup Game

LAS VEGAS (June 15, 2022)—The Las Vegas Aces clinched the Western Conference spot in the Commissioner’s Cup game, Wednesday afternoon, improving to 8-0 in Cup games with a 92-84 road victory over the Dallas Wings. The win also improved the Aces record to a league-best 12-2 on the year.

Box Score/Video Highlights

KEY RUNS

First Quarter (Dallas 23, Las Vegas 14)

Dallas led 5-4 early, and went on a 14-4 run to extend its advantage to 11, 19-8, with 3:20 remaining. The Aces went 0 for 7 from three-point range, and the Wings outscored Las Vegas 7-0 in fast break points.

Second Quarter (Dallas 44, Las Vegas 35)

A 7-0 run midway through the quarter out the Wings up by 16, 39-23—their largest lead of the day. Las Vegas scored 11 straight to close within 5. A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray combined to score 32 of the Aces 35 points.

Third Quarter (Las Vegas 66, Dallas 60)

Las Vegas opened the second half on a 24-7 run. A Kelsey Plum three-pointer put the Aces on top. The Aces made 55.0 percent of their shots, while Dallas made 33.3 percent.

Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 92, Dallas 84)

The Aces led by 8, 78-70, with 6:01 remaining, but the Wings countered with a 6-0 to slice the advantage to 2. A 9-2 Las Vegas run pushed the lead back to 9. The Wings had one final run left in them, but they couldn’t get any closer than 4 the rest of the way.

KEY STATS

It has been 824 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered.

The Aces made 49.3 percent of their shots compared to 39.7 percent for Dallas.

The Aces starters outscored the Wings’ starters 92-63. Dallas’ bench outscored Las Vegas’ 21-0.

Las Vegas committed 8 turnovers, only 3 of which came after intermission. The Wings flipped those 8 turnovers into 11 points, while Dallas committed 11 miscues, which the Aces turned into 17 points.

Las Vegas outscored Dallas 56-26 in the paint.

Dallas made 10 of 29 three-pointers, while the Aces made 6 of 22.

The Wings out-rebounded the Aces 40-32, including 11-4 on the offensive glass. Dallas turned those offensive boards into an 11-6 advantage in second chance points.

GAME NOTES

Riquna Williams missed the game with a left foot strain.

The Aces 12-2 start is the best 14-game start in franchise history.

The Aces have beaten the Wings 9 straight times which is the longest active streak by any WNBA team over another.

Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 21st straight game and the 78th time in her career (27 points). She also connected on 4 three-pointer, making it 21 straight games in which she has connected on at least one from long distance—the longest active streak in the league.

Chelsea Gray scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 149th in her career (16 points).

Dearica Hamby scored in double figures for the 12th time this season, and the 110th time in her career (16 points). She added 12 rebounds for her 5th double-double of the season, and the 24th of her career.

A’ja Wilson, who was held to 8 points vs. Dallas on June 5, scored her 8th point today with 8:33 gone in the 2nd quarter. She scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and the 120th time in her career (25 points). She also scored 20 or more points for the 6th time this year, and the 60th time in her career.

In her first game back,after missing 2 contests with an injury, Jackie Young scored 8 points, grabbed 2 rebounds and handed out 3 assists in 34 minutes and 32 seconds of action.

The Wings took a WNBA-record 42 three-pointers against the Aces on June 5, but “only” took 29 today.

The Aces starters scored all of the team’s points for the third time this season. Their 92 points were just shy of the WNBA record for most points scored in a game by a team whose reserves did not score (Chicago vs. Minnesota on August 11, 2013, 94-86 in OT).

NEXT OPPONENT

The Aces return home to take on the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, June 19. Tip is slated for 3 pm PT.