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By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher-Writer
The Las Vegas Aces drew a packed house with announced attendance of 10,348 at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena. And their WNBA game with the Los Angeles Sparks as broadcast on ABC network TV.
Unfortunately for the Aces, the WNBA’s defending champions played one of their worst games of the season, losing to the Los Angeles Sparks, 78-72. It was only the Aces’ fourth loss in 32 regular season games.
The Aces made only 36 percent of their field goal attempts (27 of 75), committed ten turnovers in the first half and was even assessed a technical foul for having six players on the court in the first half.
Even with their uneven, if not sleepy play for their 12 noon tipoff against the Sparks, the Aces actually had a chance to tie the game in the final minute on several close A’ja Wilson shot attempts. But her shots did not end with the basketball dropping through the hoop and the Aces walked out of the gym with a 28-4 record, including the first regular season loss.
The Aces ended their homestand and now hit the road for four games. The Los Angeles team improved to 13-18.
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With six minutes and four seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Las Vegas Aces’ Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young checked back into the game and the Aces trailed by four points to the Los Angeles Sparks.
The powerful Aces were looking to make a run to overcome the Sparks
But a funny thing happened. The Sparks reeled off six straight points to take a 69-59 lead.
Even the crazy Sydney Colson videos imploring Aces fans to scream their brains out to urge the Aces on didn’t seem to work.
The Aces’ comeback never happened.
The Sparks knocked off the Aces, 78-72.
The Aces’ two-time MVP, Wilson, scored 25 points, to lead the Aces.
Aces are the league’s most dominant team, outscoring foes by an average of more than 14 point per game entering Saturday’s match. The team has a +443 scoring differential overall entering today. They scored a tad under 94 points a game, which is the most in the WNBA.
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The Aces lost on Alumni Day as more than 40 former Utah, San Antonio and Las Vegas players in the franchise’s history came to schmooze, reminisce and chat with their former teammates at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
Monique Currie, 40, was among the literal stars — a former player of the San Antonio Stars in 2016. Sequoia Holmes, another alum, was in the house along with Edna Campbell.
The Aces hit the road with games against Atlanta Aug. 22, Chicago Aug. 24, Washington Aug 26 and New York Aug. 28 before returning home to play the Mystics on Aug. 31.