Aces withstand last-minute push by Storm, escape Seattle with win

Las Vegas forward A'ja Wilson shoots over two Seattle defenders including former teammate Alysha Clark (#32). Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

A chance to correct an early season wrong presented itself for the Las Vegas Aces and the team made the most of the second chance while holding off a late rally by the home team.

Las Vegas stayed afloat and beat a late-surging Seattle team, 75-70, Sunday, June 1 from Climate Pledge Arena. A week ago, the Aces were beaten by 20 points at the hands of the Storm.

“My mentality was get a win,” forward A’ja Wilson said. “We came in here and didn’t have the best showing so that was pretty much what we all said collectively when it was time to prep for Seattle, ‘Just get a win.’”

Sunday marked the beginning of this year’s Commissioner Cup play. Las Vegas won the cup back in 2022. 

This year’s Aces team is now 4-2 on the year amidst this two-game win streak. However, the team will embark on its fifth road game in the team’s first seven games of the season.

Up next, Las Vegas will travel to Golden State for a reunion with former assistant coach Natalie Nakase, who is now leading the Valkyries in their franchise’s first season. That game is scheduled for Saturday, June 7 with tip-off slated for 12 p.m.

The Aces went from being up 17 points in the early moments of the fourth quarter to being up just three points in the waning seconds of regulation. In addition, the team went the final 3:31 without a timeout.

Aces guard Chelsea Gray reacts after drawing a charge in the team's win over the Storm. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“Good for us for closing it down the stretch when I had zero timeouts,” Hammon said.

Seattle’s Erica Wheeler scored eight straight points as part of the comeback effort for the home team. Las Vegas eventually went on to lose the fourth quarter, 23-14.

Up three points with just six seconds left, former Storm guard Jewell Loyd drilled two consecutive free throws to ice the game. Those two free throws took her to 10 points on the night as the Aces only scored those two points in the last 2:20 of regulation.

“The fact that we played [defense],” Wilson said. “It’s always good when you can hold a good team like Seattle to [70 points]. That’s what we harped on all week long.”

Loyd was one of five players to reach double-figures in the win.

Las Vegas rookie Aaliyah Nye lines up a look inside Climate Pledge Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Wilson led all Las Veags scorers with 19 points on 22 field goal attempts to go along with seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and four blocks. Last week, she was held to just 15 points against Seattle.

Three of the six games this season, Wilson has been held to under 20 points.

For the first time this season, she was held without a free throw attempt.

“I plan on not getting the call,” Wilson said. “I feel like this is the first time in my career that I never went to the free throw line. I guess I never got fouled.”

Guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray were the final starters in double-figures with 12 points and 10 points respectively.

The Aces’ bench produced 22 points led by the first double-digit scoring outing of rookie Aaliyah Nye’s career. She cracked 10 points on on 50% shooting including a made three-pointer.

In addition, reserve guard Dana Evans added nine points with two made threes. This season, she is shooting better than 47% from three-point range.

“Just Becky having confidence in us,” Nye said. “And every game we want to get better and I think we’re getting more comfortable. Just keep what the first group has and hone off that and stay in the game and do the right thing. The discipline plays that we’re taught to do.”