Banged up Aces beat Sky to end road trip

Las Vegas guard Kelsey Plum drives past Chicago Kahleah Cooper during the team's win from the Wintrust Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

While pushing the current win streak to six straight games, the Las Vegas Aces limped out of Chicago with a win to end their latest road trip.

The Aces beat the Sky, 107-95, from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago Tuesday, July 25. Las Vegas now has five 100-point games this season. Overall, the Aces are 22-2 this year with 16 more regular season games to play.

After not playing a home game since July 11, Las Vegas will return home for a Sunday, July 30 matchup with Dallas. The Wings own the latest win over the Aces prior to this six-game win streak. In fact, Dallas had its five-game win streak snapped Tuesday night.

In what would’ve been her return to Chicago since departing in the offseason for Las Vegas, Aces forward Candace Parker missed her sixth straight game. It was announced Monday that Parker underwent successful foot surgery in order to correct a fracture she’d been playing on all season long according to a statement released by the team.

Las Vegas has already been without championship-clinching hero Riquna Williams as she recovers from a back injury.

Late in the third quarter, reserve forward Alysha Clark caught an elbow to the eye and would not return to the game after leaving the court with a towel up to her face. In this contest, head coach Becky Hammon and company went seven deep into their rotation with second-year guard Kierstan Bell logging the only other minutes outside of the starting unit.

Aces Becky Hammon works the sidelines as the team ran its win streak to six games. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Guard Kelsey Plum led the team in victory with 27 points on 50% shooting from the field including 13 first half points. She exploded early in the second quarter as the Aces went up 11 after starting the frame 4-for-5 from the floor.

In response, Sky guard Kahleah Copper scored a career-high 37 points just one game after setting her previous high of 29 points.

Forward A’ja Wilson added 24 points in 30 minutes of action while battling foul trouble, ending the game with five. Her offensive effort helped Las Vegas win the points in the paint battle, 50-24.

As she played through the foul trouble, Wilson mustered up four blocks and three steals while being held to just four rebounds. Frontcourt teammate Kiah Stokes hauled in17 rebounds which ties a career-high.

Guard Chelsea Gray posted a strong stat line of 22 points, six rebounds and nine assists. As a team, the Aces racked up 24 assists versus just five turnovers.

Fellow guard Jackie Young was the final player in double-figures with 15 points and three made three-pointers. She let out a lot of emotion following a dagger late in the fourth quarter to cross into double-digit scoring territory.