The Aces did not let another lead slip away.
Two days after losing on a last-second shot in Chicago, Las Vegas overwhelmed Atlanta 109-87 on Monday at State Farm Arena. Jackie Young recorded the third triple-double of her career, while the Aces shot 62 percent and scored 62 points in the paint.
Young finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. A’ja Wilson added 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks while reaching two career milestones.
Las Vegas committed six turnovers in a sloppy first quarter. Then it committed only three over the final 30 minutes and turned a two-point deficit into a 22-point win.
Control slips away
Las Vegas found good shots early and made nine of its first 14 attempts. However, six turnovers prevented the Aces from creating separation.
Young scored five points and handed out three assists. Wilson controlled the defensive glass and blocked Brionna Jones at the rim, moving past Lauren Jackson for sixth on the WNBA’s all-time blocks list.
The Aces appeared to settle in with an 8-2 run that produced a 22-17 lead. Jewell Loyd and Young hit 3-pointers during the push, while Dana Evans added a driving layup.
Then the quarter flipped.
Brianna Turner was called for an offensive foul, Atlanta hit a 3-pointer and Young committed a flagrant foul with 3.4 seconds left. Jaylyn Sherrod made three free throws, completing a 7-0 Dream run for a 24-22 lead.
Atlanta scored nine points off six Las Vegas turnovers.
Second-quarter surge
The Dream extended its run to 12-2 before Young stopped it with a 3-pointer off a Wilson assist. Wilson followed with a three-point play, putting Las Vegas back ahead 30-29.
From there, the Aces took control.
NaLyssa Smith scored four straight points, first on a sweeping drive and then after her own offensive rebound. Chelsea Gray followed with a basket that pushed the lead to six and forced an Atlanta timeout.
Smith gave Las Vegas efficient, physical minutes against one of the league’s strongest interior teams. She finished the half with eight points on 4-for-7 shooting and grabbed two offensive rebounds.
Gray then delivered the highlight of the half. She threw a behind-the-back pass from near midcourt to Young, who finished in transition.
Young continued to attack. She scored off another Wilson assist, then Gray stole the ball and converted at the other end. Young later buried another 3-pointer, extending the advantage to 51-36.
A scary moment followed when Allisha Gray’s feet became tangled with Young’s. Gray hit her face on the floor, and players from both teams gathered around her. She eventually stood and walked to the locker room under her own power, then returned to start the second half.
Wilson closed the quarter with a 3-pointer, capping a 33-14 period and sending Las Vegas into halftime ahead 55-38.
The Aces shot 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, while Atlanta went 3-for-19. Las Vegas also led 30-18 in paint points and committed no turnovers after its six in the opening quarter.
Before the game, coach Becky Hammon said Gray, Wilson and Young had to lift the entire group.
“The job of Chelsea, A’ja and Jackie is always to raise everybody’s level to a championship level, night in and night out,” Hammon said.
They did exactly that.
No letup
Las Vegas had built a double-digit lead against Atlanta earlier in the season, then scored only 10 fourth-quarter points before escaping with a one-point win.
This time, there was no fade.
The Aces opened the third quarter 9-for-11 and repeatedly attacked the paint. Wilson scored on a turnaround jumper, completed another three-point play and blocked Angel Reese near the rim.
Smith kept producing inside. Gray found gaps in Atlanta’s defense, while Young continued to create for herself and others.
Las Vegas led 70-48 with 5:44 left.
Young then pushed the game out of reach. She scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer, and forced another Atlanta timeout with the Aces ahead 84-56.
By the end of the quarter, four Las Vegas starters had reached double figures. Young had 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Wilson had 23 points, Smith had 16 and Gray had 10.
The Aces scored 31 points in the quarter and entered the fourth ahead 86-62.
They were shooting 66 percent from the field and 58 percent from 3-point range. They also held a 52-32 advantage in paint points.
Triple-double finish
Atlanta opened the fourth with seven straight points, but Las Vegas responded before the run became a problem.
Gray hit a jumper, Young scored twice and Gray later buried a step-back 3-pointer. Another Gray basket restored a 21-point lead.
Young entered the final minutes one assist shy of a triple-double. She found Smith for a layup, then later fed Turner inside for the assist that completed the third triple-double of her career.
Young finished 11-for-17 from the field and made four 3-pointers. She also directed an offense that produced 23 assists and only nine turnovers.
Las Vegas eventually emptied its bench.
Ta’Niya Latson made two free throws, while Mai Yamamoto hit the first basket of her WNBA career. Yamamoto added another 3-pointer in the closing seconds and finished with six points in two minutes.
Wilson also passed Tina Thompson for 11th on the WNBA’s all-time defensive rebounds list, completing a night with two career milestones.
Smith finished with 18 points on 9-for-16 shooting. Gray added 17 points and six assists, while Loyd made both of her 3-point attempts.
Atlanta received 23 points and 16 rebounds from Reese. Rhyne Howard added 19 points, but the Dream shot 4-for-25 from beyond the arc.
Las Vegas controlled the paint 62-52 and made 10 of 19 3-pointers. More importantly, the Aces kept attacking after building the lead.
There was no last-second drama this time. Only a complete response.
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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.
