GAME RECAP: Las Vegas Clinches No. 2 Seed With 103-70 Road Win Over Chicago

CHICAGO (September 17, 2021)—Las Vegas secured the No. 2 seed in the WNBA Playoffs Friday evening, thanks to a 103-70 road win over the Chicago Sky.  That gives the Aces a double-bye into the semifinals, which begin Tuesday, September 28 at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

 

Team W L GB
Connecticut 25 6
Las Vegas 23 8 2.0
Minnesota 21 10 4.0

 

KEY RUNS

First Quarter (Las Vegas 27, Chicago 22)

There were 6 ties and 5 lead changes in the period, but Las Vegas closed it out with a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 5, 27-22. The Aces made 63.2 percent of their shots in the quarter led by Jackie Young’s 5 for 6 (10 points), and Riquna Williams’ 4 for 5 effort (9 points)

Second Quarter (Las Vegas 61, Chicago 39)

The Aces opened the period on a 13-3 run to go up 15, 40-25. After a Sky bucket, Las Vegas followed that with a 7-0 run to go up  20. Kelsey Plum poured in 16 points in the quarter, nearly outscoring the Sky by herself (17).

Third Quarter (Las Vegas 89, Chicago 60)

The Aces lead vacillated between 18 and 29 points the entire quarter. Riquna Williams scored a game-high 10 points in the period.

Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 103, Chicago 70)

The Aces lead vacillated between 26 and 34 the entire quarter. The Aces were able to rest A’ja Wilson and Riquna Williams for the entirety of the period.

KEY STATS

It has been 553 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered.

The Aces went 9 for 18 from three-point range while the Sky went 8 for 30.

Las Vegas outrebounded Chicago 47-19.

Las Vegas made 56.2 percent of its field goal attempts, while the Sky made 40.0 percent of theirs.

The Aces made 12 of 14 free throws, while the Sky went 6 for 6.

Las Vegas outscored Chicago 17-6 in second chance points.

The Aces outscored the Sky 20-8 in fast break points.

GAME NOTES

Riquna Williams scored in double figures for the 15th time this season (season-high 22 points) and the 115th time in her career. This guarantees that the Aces will set a WNBA record with seven players averaging in double figures in the same season.

The 61 points scored by the Aces in the first half was their highest-scoring first half this season.

Las Vegas scored 100 or more points for the 7th time this season.

Kelsey Plum’s 16 points in the second quarter was the fifth most points scored in a quarter by a WNBA player this season .

Kiah Stokes handed out a career-high 7 assists. She also grabbed 10 or more rebounds for the 5th time this season and the 33rd time in her career.

A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 30th time this season, and the 108th time in her career (14 points). She also grabbed 10 rebounds for her 17th double-double of the year and the 37th of her career.

Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 19th time this season (20 points) and the 63rd time in her career. It was also her 7th time scoring 20 or more points this year, and the 14th of her career.

Dearica Hamby scored in double figures for the 16th time this season (17 points) and the 97th time in her career.

Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 20th time this season (16 points) and the 39th time in her career.

Chelsea Gray scored in double figures for the 18th time this season (10 points), and the 136th time in her career.

NEXT OPPONENT

The Aces remain on the road for the team’s final game of the regular season, Sunday, September 19 at Phoenix. Tip is slated for 12:00 pm PT on ABC.