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By Alan Snel and Cassandra Cousineau of LVSportsBiz.com
The Las Vegas Aces were all business Tuesday looking to close out their WNBA Semifinals series against the Seattle Storm.
And with a new sense of poise — and Chelsea Gray’s red-hot shooting touch — the Aces polished off a tough Seattle squad at Climate Pledge Arena tonight and clinched a spot in the Finals. The Aces will host the Chicago Sky-Connecticut Sun winner at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday at 12 noon thanks to a 97-92 win. The Aces lost the first game of the Best-of-5 Semis before winning Game 2 in Las Vegas and Games 3 and 4 in Seattle.
The Aces, which led the WNBA in scoring at 90 points per game, put up 97 points behind Gray’s 31 points and 10 assists.
“I just put the work in. I’m so proud of this group,” Gray told ESPN after the game. “It’s been a long time coming.”
The loss meant that Seattle’s longtime point guard, Sue Bird, played her final game of a celebrated 20-year career in the Emerald City.
“Sad,” Bird said after the game. “I’m going to miss it. It’s been my honor to play for this franchise and these fans.”
Facing elimination, Seattle led by three points at halftime thanks to a red-hot Breanna Stewart, who poured in 26 points in the first 20 minutes.
But the Aces stepped up their defense in the third quarter, limiting Seattle to only 12 points and built an eight-point lead in the second half at one point.
We said we wanted to come here and win two. This is the toughest place to play on the road in the WNBA. — Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon
Likely league MVP A’ja Wilson had another clutch game with 23 points and 13 rebounds, while guards Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum contributed key points, too. Young added 18, while Plum scored 15, including key buckets in the first quarter.
I was hot after that (Game 1 loss). I felt like my confidence went away. I’ve never seen myself like that. — Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson
Remarkably, Wilson played in all but four minutes of the four Las Vegas-Seattle games.
Wilson’s competitor on Seattle — Stewart– ended the game with 42 points and guard Jewell Loyd added 29. Bird ended her WNBA career with eight points and eight assists.