The Aces opened the second half of the season with a 98-83 win over the Portland Fire on Tuesday at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
A’ja Wilson finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Jackie Young added 25 points, while Chelsea Gray scored 17 and reached 4,500 points in an Aces uniform.
Before the game, Becky Hammon said Las Vegas needed to “start kicking it into gear” after the All-Star break. The Aces answered with a season-high scoring quarter and completed the season sweep.
Fast start
Hammon also said the Aces needed to “establish an early physicality” at home. Las Vegas followed that message with an 11-2 opening run and a 36-21 lead after one quarter.
Wilson scored 10 points, while Gray added eight. The 36 points set a new season high for Las Vegas in any quarter, topping the previous mark of 31.
The Aces shot 76 percent and made seven of eight 3-pointers. They also recorded 10 assists on 13 baskets, while Gray surpassed 4,500 points with the franchise.
Cold stretch
Portland opened the second quarter with six straight points as Las Vegas went scoreless for nearly five minutes. Young finally broke the drought with a 3-pointer, then added a pullup and two free throws.
Gray scored five points in the quarter, while Wilson added four. Brianna Turner protected the paint with a late block as the Aces rebuilt the lead to 53-37 by halftime.
Las Vegas scored only 17 points in the period, but held Portland to 16. The crowd still found a reason to cheer when Emily Engstler missed two free throws, triggering a free pizza promotion.
Answering run
Portland cut the lead to nine early in the third, prompting a Hammon timeout. However, the Aces responded before the Fire could get closer.
Young scored 10 points in the quarter, including a key 3-pointer that pushed Las Vegas ahead 66-58. Wilson followed with two free throws, then added a driving layup.
Jewell Loyd later created space with a crossover and buried a 3-pointer. Gray closed the quarter with a step-back jumper, sending Las Vegas into the fourth with a 79-64 lead.
Debut finish
The Aces kept Portland at arm’s length in the fourth. Wilson scored eight points in the quarter, while Young added five as Las Vegas protected its double-digit lead.
Gray made two free throws, then Wilson converted a three-point play to restore a 15-point advantage. Young later scored through contact as Las Vegas moved ahead 94-76.
Mai Yamamoto and Ta’Niya Latson made their Aces debuts in the closing minutes. Latson scored the first points of her WNBA career on a running layup.
Vegas scene
“We talk about protecting Vegas all the time, which is the paint for us,” Hammon said before the game. Las Vegas finished with a 44-34 edge inside and never trailed.
Megan DiLeo received a loud ovation when the Aces recognized her before tipoff. She later scored 20 points for Portland in her return to Las Vegas.
Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Aces, sat courtside with majority owner Mark Davis. Brady also threw a signed football into the crowd before the game.
Tom Brady, minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces and Pro Football Hall of Famer, throws a signed football into the crowd during Tuesday night’s Aces game against the Portland Fire in Las Vegas. Photo by Mark Hebert, Dice City Sports
Up next
The Aces host the New York Liberty on Thursday at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Pacific.
Related stories
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
