Las Vegas, NV—In last night’s WNBA action, The Las Vegas Aces (20-8) clinched a playoff birth by defeating the Los Angeles Sparks (12-15) 84 to 66 at Mandalay Bay Arena. The Aces has won five of its last six contests and is one game back from the league-leading Chicago Sky, the defending WNBA champion.
Kelsey Plum and Williams hit 3-pointers to jumpstart an 8-0 spurt that gave Las Vegas a 16-6 lead midway through the first quarter but the Sparks scored 16 of the next 21 points to take their first lead when Carter made two free throws with 29.4 seconds left in the period.
Plum led the Aces with 29 points and A’ja Wilson chipped in 24. Wilson’s seventh straight game of 20 or more points is a franchise record, breaking the previous mark held by coach Becky Hammon.
For the game, Plum hit 9-of-14 shots from the field and was 50% from downtown. With the Aces trailing by as many as seven points in the third quarter, Plum attacked the basket to help put the Aces back ahead. Wilson scored the first seven points and Plum the final four in an 11-0 run that made it 57-53 late in the third quarter and the Aces led the rest of the way advantage entering the final frame.
Jordin Canada scored to trim the Sparks’ deficit to two points about two minutes into the fourth but Riquna Williams and Wilson scored five points apiece in a 10-0 spurt that made it 69-57 halfway through the period. Las Vegas led by nine points the rest of the way.
Chennedy Carter led the Sparks with 15 points. Canada and Liz Cambage chipped in 11 points apiece and Nneka Ogwumike and Katie Lou Samuelson each scored 10.
Jackie Young added 11 points, nine boards, and six assists for the Aces as well and Chelsea Gray poured in 10 points.
