Las Vegas stunned in final minute as Washington takes one-point victory

Las Vegas’ all-star break may seem a little longer than normal this time around.

The Aces lost a heartbreaker to the Washington Mystics, 100-99, Wednesday, July 22 from the Care First Arena in the nation’s capital. That goes down as the team’s second loss in the last five outings while counting as just the third road loss this year in 14 tries.

“When we don’t defend we lose,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “Giving up 100 points, a 29-point fourth quarter. We’re not going to win those games, we’re 0-3 when we do that. In our losses, we give up 95 points.”

Wednesday’s loss means Las Vegas will head into the all-star break with an 18-8 overall record. As a result, the club sits in the third spot behind a 19-8 Golden State team in the league standings at the halt in play.

Currently, Minnesota leads the league with a 22-6 overall record.

“We’re not where we want to be obviously,” Hammon said. “Until we start playing defense, we’re not a serious team. We’re just not.”

Following the all-star festivities, the Aces will return to regular season action Tuesday, July 28 from the Michelob Ultra Arena.

Washington kept inching closer and closer late in regulation of a game that went back-and-forth in every way imaginable. After trimming the deficit to a single point, the home team would soon tie the game at 99 apiece before a made free throw from center Shakira Austin gave the Mystics their first lead since 51-50 earlier in the second half.

To open the final frame, Washington sprinted out to a 7-2 start before winning the fourth quarter, 29-21. That completely offset a 33-point third quarter by Las Vegas that tied a season-high for the franchise.

“It’s important to keep your composure down the stretch when things get hard,” Hammon said. “You have to have sustainability, you have to have resilience, you have to be tough in those moments. You don’t build mental toughness through easy, you build mental toughness and resiliency through hard times.”

Forward A’ja Wilson had a monster night with 38 points on 12-of-16 from the field to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. It was a dominant performance at the free throw line as well with the first-ever four-time league MVP going 12-for-13 from the charity stripe.

Wilson’s lone miss from the free throw line came with 17.8 seconds left in regulation.

Guard Jackie Young added 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. In the first quarter, she accounted for 15 of the Aces’ 22 points whether on a made basket of her own or one of her assists.

Fellow guard Chelsea Gray chipped in with 19 points on a 50% shooting night to go along with four assists. With just over a second left, her potential game-winning three-point attempt from in front of her team’s bench clanked off the iron as time expired.

As a team, Las Vegas shot 55% from the field in the loss.

“It’s us,” Hammon said. “Do I think [the officials] missed some calls, yeah. I’m sure they missed them on the other side too. This loss falls on us more than the officials.”