LAS VEGAS, NV (September 13, 2022)—A’ja Wilson (26 points), Chelsea Gray (21) and Kelsey Plum (20) each scored 20+points Tuesday evening as the Aces upended the Connecticut Sun, 85-71, to move within one win of the WNBA Championship.
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Las Vegas 23, Connecticut 15)
Tied at 14, the Aces went on a 7-0 run to take a 21-14 lead. A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray combined to score 14 points in the quarter as Las Vegas made 55.6 percent of their field goal attempts compared to 35.0 percent for Connecticut
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 45, Connecticut 37)
The Aces expanded their lead to as many as 14 in the period, but the Sun were able to reduce the advantage to 6 before an A’ja Wilson layup closed out the half. Connecticut shot 60.0 percent from the field in the second stanza. Kelsey Plum (11 points), and A’ja Wilson (10) scored 21 of Las Vegas’ 22 second quarter points.
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 68, Connecticut 54)
The Sun used an early 7-0 run to close to within 3, 49-46, but Las Vegas scored the next four, and closed the period scoring 5 straight to push its lead to 14 again. Las Vegas made 56.2 percent of its shots in the quarter while Connecticut made 37.5 percent.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 85, Connecticut 71)
Las Vegas extended its lead to as many as 20 in the 4th.
KEY STATS
It has been 914 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered. Recently, four Louisville Metro Police Department officers were charged by the FBI with federal crimes in relation to her death.
It has been 208 days since Russia’s wrongful detention of Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner began.
Las Vegas made 51.6 percent of its field goal attempts, while the Sun made 42.2 percent.
The Sun bench outscored the Aces bench, 22-8.
Las Vegas outscored the Sun 46-28 in the paint after Connecticut outscored the Aces in that category in Game 1.
The Sun outscored the Aces 9-2 in second chnce points and 6-0 in fast break points.
GAME NOTES
A’ja Wilson (26 points, 10 rebounds) became the first player in WNBA history to post five games of 20+points and 10+ rebounds in the same postseason.
Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson each scored 20+ points for the Aces becoming the second trio of teammates to all score 20+ points in multiple payoff games.
NEXT OPPONENT
Game Three of the 2022 WNBA Finals between the Aces and Sun is slated for Thursday, September 15 beginning at 6 pm PT on ESPN at Mohegan Sun Arena.