Red-Hot Las Vegas Aces Keep On Winning, Quell Seattle Storm, 102-77, In Playoffs Game 1 For 17th Straight Win
ADVERTISEMENT
Shop at Jay’s Market at 190 East Flamingo Road at the Koval Lane intersection.
ADVERTISEMENT
Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — It was July 12 and Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis was schmoozing with media on the softball field fashioned at Las Vegas Ballpark where the Davis’ other team — the NFL Raiders — were playing the NHL Vegas Golden Knights in a charity softball game.
LVSportsBiz.com was talking with Davis, who came to the fun softball fund-raiser with former Oakland A’s superstar Reggie Jackson.
I asked Davis about the Aces, a two-time WNBA champion team that was struggling at the time with an 11-12 record.
Davis said simply, “We have to get back on track.”
Well, it took a few games to “get back on track.” The Aces won three of the next five games and were 14-14 after getting destroyed by the Minnesota Lynx Aug. 2.
And then the chemistry clicked under Becky Hammon’s masterful coaching. The Aces had acquired NaLyssa Smith June 30 while also adding Kierstan Bell to the starting lineup, allowing sharpshooter Jewell Loyd to come off the bench as a microwave scorer. Loyd joined Dana Evans for instant offense off the bench.
And the Aces were off and running.
To 16 straight wins, to go from 14-14 to finish the regular season, 30-14. Urged on by Hammon, the Aces’ defensive effort stepped up bigtime as the team added a more physical edge.
And A’ja Wilson was, well, A’ja Wilson, the best player on the planet who seems to have an inside track to another MVP award.
Thirty-two seconds into Game 1 against Seattle, Wilson took a pass on a break after the Aces stole the ball and deposited the ball through the hoop.
It was Aces 2 Seattle 0.
The Aces proceeded to take over the first quarter as Las Vegas enjoyed a 19-7 lead. That hard-edged defense limited Seattle to a mere dozen points.
After one quarter: Las Vegas 22 Seattle 12.
The Aces kept their foot on the gas in the second period, opening up a 39-23 lead with 2:29 to go in the first half.
Wilson was leading the charge with points with 15 points at the time.
Halftime: Las Vegas 45 thanks to a Jackie Young three-pointer before the buzzer and Seattle 25
Wilson had 16 points at the half.
In the third quarter, the Aces widened the lead. Las Vegas was on cruise control with a 76-52 advantage heading into the fourth and final quarter.
By the fourth, the Aces’ lead ballooned to 32 points — 94-62. And at 4:59, Hammon put in the subs to guide the win to the finish line.
Final score: Aces 102 Seattle 77
Game 2 is in Seattle Tuesday under the new 1-1-1 Best of 3 first round format.
PSA
*
