By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Each Las Vegas Aces player was $30,000 richer by the end of Tuesday night.
That’s because the WNBA Aces jumped out to a 13-0 lead over the Chicago Sky and never trailed as Las Vegas won the Commissioner’s Cup in-season exhibition game, 93-83, in Chicago Tuesday.
The Aces dominated the first quarter, leading at one point, 27-5. The quarter ended with the Aces up, 33-14.
The Aces made half of their field goal attempts (37-74), while the Sky made 40.5 percent of theirs (32-79). The Aces were also much better from three-point land. Las Vegas made 9 of 21 shots from three-point range, while the Sky connected on 6 of 30.
Aces guard Kelsey Plum scored 24 points, including 6-of-9 from three-point land. Chelsea Gray scored 19, while Jackie Young had 18 with A’ja Wilson chipping in with 17. Gray won the game’s MVP.
The game is considered an exhibition and does not count toward the regular season record.
The Commissioner’s Cup is an annual in-season competition with a prize pool of $500,000 in the championship game for the players, and at least $165,000 in charitable donations throughout the year to organizations chosen by the 12 WNBA teams. The Aces are partnering this year with ACLU of Nevada.
The Aces will be on the road for a while. They play the next five games beginning with Friday’s game in Indiana. Tip at Hinkle Fieldhouse is 4PM Las Vegas time.