UNCASVILLE, CT (June 8, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces (7-1) saw its 11-game winning streak halted by the hot hand of DeWanna Bonner and the Connecticut Sun (7-2), 94-77 on Thursday night in Connecticut. The Aces received 16 points from Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson scored 13 to top the 3,000-point career scoring mark, Chelsea Gray notched 12 and Jackie Young had 10. Bonner scored a career- and franchise-high 41 points (16-23 FGs) and Alyssa Thomas dished out 12 assists.
Box Score / Photos / Highlights
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Connecticut 26, Las Vegas 15)
Cold shooting plagued the Aces, as they connected on 30.8% of their shots in the first quarter, while the Sun hit 64.7% of their field goal attempts to help the hosts take an early double-digit lead. The Aces top scorers over the first 10 minutes were Candace Parker and Plum with 4 points apiece, while Bonner scored a high of 14 for the Sun.
Second Quarter (Connecticut 43, Las Vegas 28)
The Aces improved to 41.7% shooting in the second period, while holding the Sun to 38.1%. However, the Sun won the quarter 17-13 thanks in part to outscoring the Aces 6-0 on second chance points and 6-2 in the paint. Bonner was held to 4 points in the period to finish the half with 18. Gray scored 7 and Plum had 4 points for the Aces in the period to close the half with 9 and 8, respectively.
Third Quarter (Connecticut 64, Las Vegas 52)
Wilson, who entered the game shooting a career-best 56.8% from the field this season, shot an uncharacteristic 1-of-6 over the first half (3 points). However, she made her first attempt of the second half at 8:18, bringing her career scoring total to 3,001. She ended with 10 points in the quarter. The Aces again improved their shooting with a sizzling 60% from the field, while the Sun were 44.4%. However, the Sun again outscored the Aces on second chances, 5-0, and in the paint, 12-6.
Fourth Quarter (Connecticut 94, Las Vegas 77)
Las Vegas got as close as 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but Bonner’s perfect 6-of-6 from the field (17 points) kept the Sun in control. The Aces bench played most of the final stanza, won by the Sun 30-25. Cayla George and Young scored 6 points each in the final frame.
KEY STATS
It has been 1,182 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered. In 2022, three officers were federally charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and civil rights violations. One of the officers later pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy, marking the first conviction in the case.
The ACLU is currently tracking 491 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the United States.
The Aces, which scored at least 90 points in 6 of their first 7 games this season, were held to a season-low 77 points.
Connecticut made 8 of 14 (57.1%) from 3-point range, while the Aces made 9 of 21 (42.9%).
Las Vegas made 46.7% of its shots from the field overall, after making 30.8% in the first quarter, while Connecticut made 52.9%.
Connecticut outscored Las Vegas 40-24 points in the paint, 17-5 on the fast break and 11-4 on second chance points.
The Las Vegas bench outscored the Connecticut reserves 20-12.
GAME NOTES
Wilson scored in double figures for the 32nd consecutive regular season game (13 points), which is the third-longest active streak in the WNBA, and the 6th-longest streak in Aces’ franchise history.
Wilson picked up 3 steals on the night, and now has at least 1 steal in 28-straight games which is the longest active streak in the league, and tied the Aces franchise record held by Sophia Young-Malcolm.
Wilson blocked 1 shot on the night and extended her streak of at least 1 blocked shot to 11 games, which is the longest active streak in the W.
Wilson crossed the 3,000-point plateau at 8:18 in the third quarter and now has 3,009 points.
Riquna Williams did not dress for the Aces (lower back).
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces return home where they will play 8 of their next 9 games beginning with a Sunday, June 11, contest against the Chicago Sky. Tip is slated for 12 pm PT at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The game is “Kids Day,” an annual fan favorite, and the first 5,000 kids in attendance will receive a custom BUCKET$ growth chart to help our youngest Aces fans track their development over the years.