CHICAGO (May 28, 2022)—The Las Vegas Aces won their sixth straight game, Saturday, improving to 8-1 on the season with an, 83-76, road win over the defending WNBA champion Chicago Sky. A’ja Wilson (22 points, 16 rebounds) and Dearica Hamby (14, 14) both recorded double-doubles in the victory.
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Chicago 23, Las Vegas 22)
Chicago led 7-6, but the Aces scored 8 straight to go up, 14-7 with 4:53 to go in the quarter. The Sky countered by scoring 5 straight and closed the period on a 5-0 run to regain the lead. Kelsey Plum had 10 points in the period.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 51, Chicago 38)
Tied at 29, the Aces scored 10 straight points to go up 10, 39-29. Four Aces finished the half with 10+ points—Dearica Hamby (12), A’ja Wilson (12). Chelsea Gray (12) and Kelsey Plum (14).
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 66, Chicago 53)
Neither team scored for the first 1:48 before an A’ja Wilson jumper in the lane put the Aces up 15, 53-38. They would eventually lead by as many as 18, that last time coming with 4:25 to go in the quarter, 60-42. Chicago held Las Vegas scoreless for more than three minutes, scoring 9 straight to cut the advantage under single digits.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 83, Chicago 76)
An 8-0 Sky run late in the game sliced the Aces lead from 12-4, but Chicago was unable to get any closer.
KEY STATS
It has been 806 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered.
The Aces made 48.7 percent of their field goals in the first half, and 26.7 percent after the break.
Las Vegas made 36.9 percent of its shots, while Chicago made 34.6.
The Aces made 4 of 20 three-pointers, while the Sky made 5 of 21.
Las Vegas made 17 of 23 free throws, while Chicago made 15 of 17.
The Sky outscored the Aces 20-13 in fast break points.
The Sky bench outscored the Aces bench, 29-0. Las Vegas’ starters outscored Chicago’s 83-47.
GAME NOTES
Riquna Williams missed the game with a left foot strain.
The Aces 8-1 start is the best nine-game start in franchise history. The last team to start a season 8-1 was Seattle in 2020. The Storm extended that start to 11-1 before dropping two straight games.
This is the first game in WNBA history in which both teams grabbed at least 50 rebounds (50 each for Las Vegas and Chicago).
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 8th time this season and the 115th of her career. It was also her 3rd game scoring 20 or more points this season, and the 57th of her career. She added a career-high tying 16 rebounds for her 5th double-double of the season (42nd of her career). In the third quarter, she grabbed the 1,000th rebounds of her career.
Dearica Hamby scored in double figures for the 8th time this season, and the 106th of her career (14 rebounds). She added 14 rebounds for her 4th double-double of the season, and the 23rd of her career.
Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 11th straight game and the 49th time in her career (10 points).
Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 16th straight game and the 73rd time in her career (19 points).
Chelsea Gray scored in double figures for the 8th time this season and the 145th time in her career (18 points).
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces return home for a pair of games next week against the Connecticut Sun—Tuesday, May 31 at 6 pm PT on ESPN, and Thursday, June 2 at 7 pm PT on MyLVTV.