July 24, 2022 – Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) – Las Vegas Aces Press Release
LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Aces (20-8) got 29 points from Kelsey Plum and 24 from A’ja Wilson, alongside one of the best team defensive efforts of the year in a victory of 84-66 over the visiting Los Angeles Sparks (12-15). With the win, the Aces clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. They join the Chicago Sky (21-7) as the only two teams to have clinched a playoff berth so far.
2022 07 23 Aces vs. Sparks
KEY EXECUTIONS
First Quarter (Los Angeles 22, Las Vegas 21)
The Aces scored 16 of the game’s first 22 points to climb into double digits, but the Sparks scored 16 of the next 21 to take the lead after 10 minutes. Los Angeles went 12 for 13 from the free throw line in the period, while the Aces went 5 for 5.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 39, Los Angeles 39)
Neither team led by more than 5 for the entire quarter.
Third quarter (Las Vegas 57, Los Angeles 53)
The Aces trailed by 7 with 5:12 left in the period, but held the Sparks scoreless for the rest of the quarter and closed out the third stanza on a 12-0 run. Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson combined to score 16 of the team’s 18 points in the frame.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 84, Los Angeles 66)
Los Angeles cut the Aces advantage to two early in the fourth, but Las Vegas went 10-0 and 15-4 to put the game out of reach. The Aces made 60.0 percent of their shots from the field, including 5 of 8 three-pointers during the period.
KEY STATISTICS
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Las Vegas made 10 of 27 three-pointers, while the Sparks connected on just 2 of 12.
The Aces took 11 more shots than the Sparks thanks to a 9-4 advantage in offensive rebounds, and committed three less turnovers than Los Angeles (15-12).
The bench of Los Angeles dominated the bench of Aces, 22-8.
PLAY NOTES
The Aces held Los Angeles to 66 points, which is a season low for a Las Vegas opponent.
Kelsey Plum extended his consecutive game streak with at least one three-pointer to 35 games, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA.
Kelsey Plum’s 4 three-pointers give him 88 on the year, extending his franchise single-season record. This tied the record for most threes in a season by someone not named Diana Taurasi (Katie Smith in 2000). Taurasi holds the league record with 121 three-pointers in a season.
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 26th time this season and the 134th time in her career (24 points). It was his 15th game of 20 or more points this year and the 69th of his career, extending his franchise record for most career 20-point games. It’s also the 7th straight game in which she scores 20 or more points, breaking the franchise record she shared with Becky Hammon.
Chelsea Gray scored in double figures for the 21st time this season and the 158th time in his career (10 points).
Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 23rd time this season and the 63rd time in his career. She also just missed a double-double grabbing a season-high 9 rebounds.
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces hit the road for a franchise-record six straight games starting with a Tuesday, July 26 tilt in Chicago for the Commissioner’s Cup championship. Tipping at Wintrust Arena is 5:30 p.m. PT.
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