LAS VEGAS, NV (August 11, 2022)—Las Vegas (25-10) moved into a tie with Chicago (25-10) in the race for the number one seed in the 2022 WNBA Playoffs, Thursday, and secured the tiebreaker against the Sky with an, 89-78, victory.
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Las Vegas 27, Chicago 16)
An 8-0 Aces run early in the period gave them a 14-6 lead, which they extended to as many as 14 late in the period. Las Vegas made 64.3 percent of its shots in the quarter, while Chicago made 37.5 percent. The Aces also forced the Sky into 5 turnovers which they flipped into 7 points.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 47, Chicago 33)
The Aces scored 7 of the first 9 points in the quarter. Kelsey Plum led all scorers with 18 points before intermission, while A’ja Wilson added 11 points and a season-high tying 4 steals.
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 71, Chicago 61)
The Sky scored the first 8 points coming out of the locker room to cut the Aces lead to six. It was still a 7-point game with 4:45 to go when Las Vegas extended its lead to a game-high 18 points courtesy of an 11-0 run. Chicago scored the final 7 points of the period. Jackie Young and Kahleah Copper each scored 16 points in the third, with the Sky connecting on 70.6 percent of their field goal attempts in the period.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 89, Chicago 78)
The Aces lead only dipped below 10 points for 20 seconds over the final 10 minutes of play. Kiah Stokes scored 7 of her 9 points in the final stanza to lead Las Vegas.
KEY STATS
It has been 881 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 175 days since Russia’s wrongful detention of Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner began.
Las Vegas went 9 for 21 from three-point range, while the Sky went 3 for 21.
The Aces went 18 for 20 from the free throw line while Chicago went 15 for 19.
The Aces committed 9 turnovers which the Sky flipped into 6 points, while Chicago had 17 miscues which Las Vegas turned into 20 points.
The Aces bench outscored the Chicago’ bench 15-11 (Riquna Williams, 12).
GAME NOTES
Kelsey Plum extended her streak of consecutive games with at least one made three-pointer to 42, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA. That is the 5th longest streak in WNBA history. Next up on the list are Kristi Tolliver with 43 straight, and Diana Taurasi with 44 straight.
Kelsey Plum’s 4 three-pointers give her 109 on the year, extending her franchise single-season record. She now holds the WNBA record for most threes in a season by somebody not named Diana Taurasi. Taurasi holds the league record with 121 three-pointers in a season.
| 1 | Diana Taurasi | 2006 | Phoenix | 121 |
| 2 | Kelsey Plum | 2022 | Las Vegas | 109 |
| 3 | Diana Taurasi | 2018 | Phoenix | 106 |
| 4 | Diana Taurasi | 2017 | Phoenix | 96 |
| 5 | Diana Taurasi | 2007 | Phoenix | 95 |
| 6 | Diana Taurasi | 2022 | Phoenix | 92 |
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 33rd time this season and the 14st time in her career (12 points). She also tied her season-high with 4 steals
Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 30th time this season and the 68th time in her career (22 points).
Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 34th time this season and the 97th time in her career (25 points).
Riquna Williams scored in double figures or the 4th time this season and the first since July 17 at Connecticut (12 points)
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces conclude the 2022 WNBA regular season on Sunday, August 14 with a 12 pm PT tip on ABC against the Seattle Storm. A win gives the Aces the number one seed in the playoffs.