Tuesday’s Home Court Was Sold Out T-Mobile Arena, Where 18,394 Watch Aces Handle Chicago Sky, 90-71, Before Aces’ East Coast Road Trip
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Story by Alan Snel and Cassandra Cousineau Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The WNBA Las Vegas Aces played their second game of the 2024 season at T-Mobile Arena, but the Aces still consider Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena their home, team president Nikki Fargas said before the Aces’ 90-71 win over the Chicago Sky before an announced crowd of 18,394 Thursday evening.
“We have a great relationship with Michelob Ultra Arena. That’s our home,” Fargas said.
But the Aces also have T-Mobile Arena at their disposal and the WNBA’s two-time defending champs use that arena for exceptional cases like when the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark created a demand for tickets earlier this season. MGM Resorts International, which bought the former WNBA San Antonio franchise and moved it to Las Vegas in 2018 before selling the team to Mark Davis, owns Michelob Ultra Arena and a 42.5 percent share of T-Mobile Arena.
Fargas also noted that T-Mobile Arena’s bigger venue allows Aces fans who are shut out from buying a ticket at Michelob Ultra Arena a chance to buy a seat and watch the team.
The VGK owner Bill Foley-managed Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson pitched the Aces of using its arena for games. But the arena in the Green Valley area of Henderson with its 6,000 plus seats is too small, Fargas said.
The team president who used to be the LSU head coach said she’s open to consider other options if they work. For example, with Aces/Raiders owner Davis running the Raiders-managed Allegiant Stadium, an Aces game at the domed NFL stadium could be an option. The NCAA is staging college basketball’s Final Four at Allegiant Stadium in 2028.
Plus, the Aces might play teams like Seattle and New York in the playoffs — two teams that play in arenas that are the size of T-Mobile Arena, Fargas said.
“When we can fill out these kinds of venues that’s great for the W. That’s great for women’s basketball,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said after the game.
But for now, Michelob Ultra Arena is the Aces’ home and Fargas believes the close quarters of the fans at that arena gives the Aces a home court advantage.
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The Aces players, who urged people to vote during the 2020 presidential election, wore warmup shirts with, “vote” on the front during pregame activities with another national election taking place in November.
The WNBA players are, by far, the most politically-expressive athletes in professional leagues in the U.S.
An Aces member on the mend is Davis the owner. He told LVSportsBiz.com that he recently had work in his rotator cuff and his right arm is in a sling.
The Aces’ CEO is Larry Delsen, a close advisor to Davis.
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The Aces played a solid complete game without starting guard Kelsey Plum.
A’ja Wilson played her usual MVP-style game with 30 points and 14 points and the point guard, Chelsea Gray, added 13 points and ten assists.
The Aces play only two more home games and are in the number four seed position for the playoffs. If the postseason started today, the Aces would play number 5 seeded Seattle. But the Indiana Fever are creeping up the standings and are in the number 6 seed, three games behind Seattle.
