The Las Vegas Aces hosted the Los Angeles Sparks inside Michelob ULTRA Arena on Friday, May 30. A’ja Wilson extended her streak to 56 games scoring in double-digits. She shot a team-high 35 points, and Jackie Young was right behind with 26.
Former Aces 2022 and 2023 Championship player Kelsey Plum, now on the Sparks, was welcomed home with love by the Vegas community and former teammates before the game started. Plum led her team with 17 points.
While the Sparks took an early lead of four points, Young sank a three to get the Aces on the board. Wilson made two free throws and a jump shot to get the lead for her team. Las Vegas lived behind the arc with back-to-back threes by Young and Chelsea Gray. The Sparks had multiple bad passes and turnovers, leading to an over three-minute scoring deficit. Vegas was able to get a 23-9 lead. The Sparks found a groove and had a small comeback. The first period ended with the Aces ahead 28-21.
Dana Evans started the second period with a three-pointer. Wilson added four points and a huge block on Dearica Hamby that had the crowd up on their feet. Gray and Jewell Lloyd hit back-to-back threes to get the Aces to 50 points. Head coach Becky Hammon challenged a foul called on Young and won the challenge. Tiffany Mitchell hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer to end the period 57-42, Aces leading.
After halftime, the Aces got right back into the game how they did in the first two periods, with a three-pointer. This time, it was Kiah Stokes who hit the swish. The Sparks were drowned in the Aces’ defense, not being able to score for almost four minutes. The teams traded off scoring the rest of the period. The Aces excelled in scoring off of rebounds and consistently making free throws. Las Vegas kept the lead with an 80-59 score after the third period.
Los Angeles went on a roll to start the final period. They shrunk their score deficit from 21 points to 10. The Aces struggled with missed shots and bad passes in an almost four-minute scoring drought. Young brought the team back to life with back-to-back jump shots. Wilson closed the game, scoring the last five points for Vegas. The Aces beat the Sparks 96-81.
“Shooting doesn’t bother me, it’s the defense,” Hammon said when asked about the 16-point fourth period. “I always want the defense. The shooting comes and goes. The defense cannot come and go. It has to stay the whole time.”
