Young ties career-high, Wilson leaves in latest Las Vegas loss

Las Vegas guard Jackie Young floats in the air to finish the layup past two Los Angeles defenders. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Las Vegas dropped its second Commissioner’s Cup game in its first three tries after a recent stumble inside The House.

In round two against Los Angeles, the Aces lost to the Sparks, 97-89, Wednesday, June 11 from the Michelob Ultra Arena. Both teams were coming off losses to the Golden State Valkyries while Las Vegas suffered a 27-point setback versus an overtime loss for Los Angeles.

“We have to put quarters together, not just two or three minutes,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “The defense – how easy it is is the frustrating part. They’re getting layups, they’re getting wide-open threes. There has to be a level of execution defensively.”

While dropping to 1-2 in cup games, this year’s Aces team is now 4-4 overall on this season. Currently, the team holds onto the sixth spot in the conference, a half game up on the aforementioned Valkyries and Indiana Fever.

Aces guard Jewell Loyd tries to keep up with Sparks guard on the dribble drive to the basket. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“A lot [of our conversations] are some of our conversations we had a week ago,” Hammon said. “The defense – I mean [the Sparks] had 50 [points] at half.”

Wednesday marked the beginning of a three-game homestand that’ll continue from the Michelob Ultra Arena Friday, June 13. On that night, Las Vegas will host Dallas with tip-off set for 7 p.m.

“We’re still searching for that [full] 40-minute game,” Hammon said. “It’s like a damn unicorn.”

Guard Jackie Young capitalized off her 26-point performance in the first meeting with the Sparks and turned in a career-high tying performance when seeing them a second time. She reached a new season-high with 28 points in the fourth quarter on her way to 34 points which ties her career-best.

“Whenever [forward A’ja Wilson] went out, next person up,” she said. “We know that it’s going to be a team effort. One person can’t pick up the weight when A’ja is gone. It takes all of us so I just tried to do what I could whether it be scoring or kicking to my teammates, just making the right play.”

Las Vegas guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray hype each other up inside the MIchelob Ultra Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

After an 0-for-1 start from the field in the first quarter, Young rattled off 11 straight points in the second quarter. Prior to her individual run, Las Vegas was held without a field goal for nearly six and a half minutes before a Young bucket ended the drought.

In total, she scored 14 straight points for the home team.

“Just being aggressive,” she said. “I wasn’t aggressive to start the game, I think maybe one shot attempt. Really just being aggressive and I know that the team needs me to score. So coming out with an aggressive mindset but trying to be smart in picking and choosing when I’m going to shoot.”

Young finished with a game-high 34 points on 50% shooting to go along with eight rebounds and four assists.

Wilson went 0-for-7 in the first half while failing to find an offensive rhythm. She connected on her first field goal a minute into the third quarter before adding a second made shot by the 7:46-mark.

Wilson tallied 13 points before taking herself out of the game with 1:17 left in the third quarter. Not long after she’d leave the bench entirely, retiring to the locker room for the remainder of the game.

“I think she got elbowed by [Los Angeles forward Dearica Hamby],” Hammon said. “I know she was bleeding and I know she couldn’t come back.”

On the defensive end, Las Vegas had to endure a career night from second-year player Rickea Jackson. She posted 30 points including a 14-point first quarter that included four made three-pointers.

As a team, Los Angeles shot 57% from the field while holding the home team to 38% from the floor. In addition, the visitors scored 12 more paint points than Las Vegas.

Aces forward A'ja Wilson acknowledges teammates on her way to the free-throw line. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“Did they hit some shots? Yeah,” Hammon said. “You had a wild card, Rickea comes in – I don’t know if that’s her career-high. Four-for eight? She’s made four threes in a game before? She had four in the first quarter.

“I think we took a huge punch, we battled back but you spot a team 20 and then we’re down three post players. Tough.”

Former Aces guard Kelsey Plum added 13 points and nine assists in her second outing as an opponent where she won two championships.

Off-season trade acquisition Jewell Loyd came out the gate, jacking up shot attempts including three in the first two minutes. By the end of the first quarter, she’d compile a shooting mark of 2-for-5.

Loyd wouldn’t make her next field goal until early in the fourth quarter and would serve as her final made field goal of the game. She finished with seven points on 3-of-9 from the floor.

Coming out of halftime, rookie Aaliyah Nye got the start in place of the two-time champion Loyd.

“I think [Loyd’s] getting good looks, she just has missed them,” Hammon said. “I know she came out because she had three fouls so that’s always a little bit of a hindrance in somebody’s playing time but she’s doing a lot of other things right.

“Yes, [moving her to the bench] has been talked about, brought up by her.”