UNCASVILLE, CT (June 6, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces (7-0) are still undefeated following the team’s 90-84 victory over the Connecticut Sun, Tuesday, in what served as a rematch of the 2022 WNBA Finals. The unselfish Aces assisted on each of its first 13 made field goals to start the game, and rounded out the night with 25 dimes on 32 buckets. A’ja Wilson scored a game-high 23 points to go with 10 rebounds; Jackie Young finished with 22 points, 7 caroms and 6 assists; Kelsey Plum notched 17 points and 6 assists; and Chelsea Gray chipped in 14 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Rebecca Allen, who had 2 points in the first half, tallied 14 points in the 4th quarter and topped out for the Sun with 22 points. Alyssa Thomas grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and scored 14 points.
Box Score / Photos / Highlights
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Las Vegas 25, Connecticut 14)
The Aces, who struck first and never trailed, were unselfish from the start, dishing out 10 assists on 10 made field goals in the first quarter. All 7 Aces who played in the first quarter scored, led by Young’s 7 points and 3 assists, and Gray’s 6 points and 4 assists. The biggest lead of the quarter was the 11-point, 25-14, edge the squad held at the end of the stanza.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 48, Connecticut 31)
Las Vegas continued to hold a double-digit lead throughout the second quarter, and took a 48-31 advantage into the midway break. Plum scored 8 points in the quarter for the Aces, who won the quarter 23-17.
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 70, Connecticut 53)
The third quarter was a back and forth affair. However, Las Vegas was back up by 17 points at the end of the period. The Sun came out of the locker room on a 10-3 spurt to pull to within 12, 53-41. The Aces then went up 19 points, 61-42, but Connecticut cut it to 13, 61-48, with 2:29 on the clock. Aces head coach Becky Hammon called for a timeout and her team responded by outscoring the Sun 9-5 to end the quarter. Wilson scored 8 points in the period.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 90, Connecticut 84)
Connecticut held Las Vegas scoreless for a 4-minute stretch midway through the period, during which the hosts scored 12-straight points to cut the gap to 76-73. However, a Wilson jumper with 3:41 remaining ended the Aces’ scoring drought (78-73). Plum followed with a 3 to put Las Vegas up 81-73, but the Sun would not back down and cut it to 4 with 32 seconds to play, 86-82. Four made free throws down the stretch iced the win for the Aces, who came away with the 90-84 victory.
KEY STATS
It has been 1,180 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 have scored at least 90 points in 6 of their 7 games this season.
The Sun outscored the Aces 17-6 on second chance points.
Connecticut made 10 of 26 from 3 point range, while the Aces made 4 of 15.
Las Vegas made 50.8 percent of its shots from the field while Connecticut made 40.8 percent
The Aces finished the contest with 25 assists on 32 made field goals.
Las Vegas outscored Connecticut 48-34 points in the paint and 19-12 on the fast break.
Connecticut’s bench outscored the Las Vegas reserves 33-9.
GAME NOTES
The Aces are now 7-0 to start a season for the first time in franchise history, and they have won 11-straight regular season games dating back to 2022.
Wilson scored in double figures for the 31st consecutive regular season game (23 points), which is the third-longest active streak in the WNBA, and the 6th-longest streak in Aces’ franchise history.
Wilson picked up 2 steals on the night, and now has at least 1 steal in 27-straight games which is the longest active streak in the league. The Aces franchise record is 28-straight games held by Sophia Young-Malcolm.
Wilson blocked 4 shots on the night and extended her streak of at least 1 blocked shot to 10 games, which is the longest active streak in the W.
Wilson is 4 points shy of 3,000 for her career.
Wilson recorded her 4th double-double of the season and the 58th of her career (23 points, 10 rebounds)
The Aces made 4 3-pointers against the Sun, the lowest mark in the Hammon era, which has been hit 3 times (Indiana on 6/4/23 and Chicago 5/28/22).
Riquna Williams did not dress for the Aces (lower back).
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces conclude their 4-game road trip with a second-straight game against the Sun on Thursday, June 8. Tip time is slated for 4:00 pm PT.