Las Vegas Aces Secure a Spot in the WNBA Playoffs
In an exciting night of basketball, the Las Vegas Aces secured a spot in the WNBA playoffs by defeating the Chicago Sky with a score of 79-74. The match, played on Monday night, saw the Aces demonstrate their dominance on the court, solidifying their position in the league. Jackie Young led the Aces’ attack with 22 points and seven assists, while A’ja Wilson contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. The collective performance of the Las Vegas team was key to securing their eleventh consecutive victory, becoming the second team to secure a playoff spot this season. Chelsea Gray had 14 points and seven assists, and NaLyssa Smith added 10 points for the Aces. The team once again demonstrated its ability to work as a team and maintain a high level of play.For the Chicago Sky, Ariel Atkins shined with a season-high 30 points, and Kamilla Cardoso achieved 19 points and 10 rebounds. Angel Reese also stood out with 10 points and 17 rebounds, achieving her 20th double-double of the season, leading the league in this statistic. Reese surpassed Tina Charles in WNBA history for double-doubles in a player’s first two seasons.
Young was key in the first half, scoring the last 12 points for Las Vegas, culminating in a three-pointer with 0.2 seconds left, establishing a 44-32 lead. Young finished the first half with 20 points, with an impressive 8 of 10 from the field, including 4 of 5 from the three-point line. In the fourth quarter, Reese put Chicago ahead 74-73 with a quick basket, their first lead since the start of the game. However, Gray responded with a three-pointer, followed by a shot from Wilson, securing the victory for the Aces. During halftime, Chicago honored Candace Parker, retiring her number 3 jersey at Wintrust Arena, alongside the 2021 championship banner. Parker, who also had her jersey retired in Los Angeles, becomes the second WNBA player to have her number retired by two different teams.
