LAS VEGAS (May 31, 2022)—The Las Vegas Aces won their seventh consecutive game Tuesday evening, improving to 9-1 on the season thanks to an 89-81 victory over the top team in the East, the Connecticut Sun (6-3). A’ja Wilson, fresh off of her second Western Conference Player of the Week award, paced the Aces with a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double. Tom Brady was in attendance. Yes … THE Tom Brady.
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Las Vegas 23, Connecticut 21)
Neither team led by more than 4 points the entire quarter. Jackie Young led all scorers with 10 points in the period.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 50, Connecticut 42)
Tied at 25 early in the second, Las Vegas scored 10 straight points to go up double digits for the first time. A’ja Wilson finished he half with 11 rebounds.
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 72, Connecticut 61)
Connecticut scored the first basket after the break to slice the Aces’ lead to six, but they would never get any closer as the Aces lead vacillated between 8 and 13 for the remainder of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 89, Connecticut 81)
The Aces pushed their advantage to 20, opening the frame on a 13-4 run. The Sun battled back to within 8 on two occasions, but could not get any closer.
KEY STATS
It has been 809 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered.
The Aces made 45.2 percent of their shots compared to 43.6 percent for Connecticut
Las Vegas made 17 of 20 free throws, while Connecticut made 7 of 12.
The Sun bench outscored the Aces bench, 26-4. Las Vegas’ starters outscored Connecticut’s 85-55.
Las Vegas outscored Connecticut 22-2 in fast break points.
GAME NOTES
Riquna Williams missed the game with a left foot strain.
The Aces 9-1 start is the best 10-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.
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 9th time this season and the 116th of her career (24 points). It was also her 4th game scoring 20 or more points this season, her third straight 20+ points performance, and the 58th of her career. She added 14 rebounds for her 6th double-double of the season (43rd of her career).
Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 12th straight game and the 50th time in her career (21 points).
Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 17th straight game and the 74th time in her career (18 points).
Chelsea Gray scored in double figures for the 9th time this season and the 146th time in her career (13 points).
Every fan in attendance won a free slice of pizza from Slice of Vegas as part of the Miss Twice, Get A Slice promotion. If an opposing player misses two straight free throws, every fan gets a free slice of pizza. DeWanna Bonner missed a pair of free throws in the first quarter.
A’ja Wilson grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half. That is the third time this season that a WNBA player had grabbed 11 or more rebounds in a half this year—A’ja Wilson, 12 in the second half on May 28, and Dearica Hamby, 11 in the first half on May 8.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces remain at home for the second game in a row against the Connecticut Sun Thursday, June 2 at 7 pm PT on MyLVTV.