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Story by Cassandra Cousineau and Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Phoenix raced out to a big first quarter lead, scoring 37 points in all in the opening quarter, and piled up 117 points in a coast-to-coast 117-91 win over the homecourt Las Vegas Aces at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Arena Thursday evening.
Aces owner Mark Davis hugged Phoenix Mercury sharpshooter Diana Taurasi after the game after Taurasi put on a three-point shooting clinic with 37 points in 27 minutes of play. Interestingly enough, Taurasi said she is a Raiders fan.
“Wo got our butts kicked,” Aces coach Bill Laimbeer said after the game.
Before the game, veteran Aces guard Chelsea Gray predicted Game 2 of the WNBA Semifinals would be a rough one.
“The next game is the hardest one to win,” Gray said.
So true.
Phoenix scored 68 points in the first half on 76.5 percent shooting and also came out with more energy than the Aces.
The series is now tied at a game apiece as the semis shifts to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4.
Kelsey Plum led the Aces with 25 points.
The Aces announced attendance at 6,432.
Award Update
You can’t say enough about the depth of this 2021 Las Vegas Aces team. The starting five boasts an MVP in A’ja Wilson and coming off the bench are back-to-back-to-back Sixth Women of the year in Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum.
At the top, team General Manager, Dan Padover was named WNBA Executive of the Year for the second time in a row. After bringing Angel McCoughtry to the Las Vegas Aces in 2020, the third-year GM signed Chelsea Gray and Riquna Williams for 2021. This past offseason the Aces also drafted Destiny Slocum at No. 14 overall and re-signed Cambage. The roster is formidable at both ends of the floor.
In addition to the individual hardware, the team is stacked with seven Olympians. There’s just one thing missing; a WNBA Championship.
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There were some big names courtside, including Davis the Raiders/Aces owner; UFC bossman/president Dana White; former MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren; NBA great Shaquille O’Neal; and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
On her way out of the postgame presser, Taurasi said, “I’m trying to get tickets to a Raiders game. I’m a die hard Raiders fan. Somebody holla at Mark Davis.”
With White, the UFC chief at the game, the Mercury players had some fun after the game with some amusing comments:
Phoenix star center Brittney Griner was asked about saying hello to White, who was at courtside, and is Griner interested in a fighting career?
“Yes! Sign me up for celebrity fighting,” Griner said.
Taurasi chimed in, “Me too!”
And not to be outdone, Phoenix guard added, “I’ll promote!”
After the game, Laimbeer had some serious thoughts on the refs.
“I will say that I’m getting tired of the referees and how they referee us. Someone has to say something and I just did.”