By Cassandra Cousineau
LVSportsBiz.com
A week ago you couldn’t hear the ball bounce inside Thomas & Mack Center through the deafening sounds of 7,981 at the Las Vegas Aces playoff game against the Chicago Sky. Some fans were clapping. Some were chanting, “DEFENSE.” Some turned away and peeked over shoulders to watch 14.3 seconds tick away. Courtney Vandersloot, the Sky’s 85 percent free throw shooter, was hounded by Aces guard Kelsey Plum under her own basket. Tick, tick, tick, the seconds were slipping away with Aces WNBA championship hopes.
Vandersloot found daylight and saw a streaking Diamond DeShields. But thanks to Aces guard Sydney Colson, Vandersloot didn’t see Aces’ sixth-player star Dearica Hamby behind DeShields. Hamby picked off the pass. Then, without a breath in between at 8.3 seconds, she nailed a desperation 38-footer to put the Aces up by one point. That one point is all it took to send Las Vegas on to the WNBA semifinals, which continue today with a Game 3 match with the Washington Mystics at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
It’s been that kind of season for the Las Vegas Aces and 11 other teams around the WNBA. The best players in women’s basketball put on a show filled with quality play, athleticism, and competitive match-ups. Also of note, the WNBA requires players to be at least 22 years of age, to have completed their college eligibility, to have graduated from a four-year college or to be four years removed from high school.
The product stands on its own. There are invariable comparisons to the NBA and attempts to qualify participation through the lens of a patriarchal narrative. Although, the constant support and appearances by Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and LeBron James underscore this is just great basketball.
“It’s hard to convince people who have never seen a game. I want fans to watch the WNBA on TV, and come to the arena to get the full experience,” the Aces All-star forward A’ja Wison told LVSportsbiz.com.
Gate receipts are important. After all, this form of entertainment is fueled by business needs and requirements. Against the backdrop of declining ticket sales, and increasing viewership, the quality of the league is at an all time high. The league needs to make money. However, if the product quality is sub-standard, the dollars will never make a whole lot of sense.
Throughout the season athletes representing various professional sports have taken in an Aces game. LVSportsbiz.com spoke with champion boxer Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell ahead of his defense on Sept. 28. He offered words of encouragement for the team as they fight for their own championship. “Just fight, trust in your teammates. Every game we went to they played great. They made me like women’s basketball and that’s an honest opinion. I wasn’t so strong on it, but it’s fun, especially to experience an Aces game.”
With the league about to wrap up its 23rd season, every night during the 34-game schedule is meaningful and intense. In addition to Hamby, Las Vegas’ formidable double treat of Wilson and center Liz Cambage, along with All-Star Kayla McBride and the NCAA’s leading women’s basketball scorer, Kelsey Plum, offer value beyond the league average ticket price. At $18-$20 for a seat in the arena, this is the best sports value in a town gaining momentum as a serious sports destination.
Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International has done a good job of promoting the Aces after buying the San Antonio Stars and relocating the team two years ago. Efforts to reach out to the Las Vegas community are starting to show returns especially with women, young girls, and families. What’s interesting is women’s basketball is also supported by older men, who enjoy the sport around the country. Take a look at who’s sitting courtside at Mandalay Bay Events Arena. There’s Jim Murren , MGM Resorts International CEO. And Raiders owner Mark Davis is another big fan.
Just a week has passed since Hamby’s steal and her memorable running three-point shot secured a spot for the team in the WNBA semifinals against the heavily favored Mystics. With the Aces down, 2-0 in games and facing elimination in the best-of-five series, the season is on the line when the team tips off at 2 p.m. If you’re looking for quality of play and competitive basketball, the Aces are a great sports value in Las Vegas.