The Aces turned defensive pressure, transition scoring and timely 3-pointers into an 89-79 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Their sixth straight win secured at least the No. 3 playoff seed with one regular-season game remaining.
A’ja Wilson finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Jackie Young delivered 14 points and 11 assists. Chelsea Gray scored 17, and Stephanie Talbot added 14 on 6-of-8 shooting with three steals at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Las Vegas (30-13) outscored Los Angeles 22-10 in transition and 18-8 off turnovers. The Aces also made 11 3-pointers to the Sparks’ seven, creating enough separation to withstand several pushes.
Before tipoff, coach Becky Hammon emphasized that her team still had work to do.
“I’m always concerned about something. You’re never comfortable. Comfort will get you beat,” Hammon said during pregame availability.
Talbot sets the tone
Talbot supplied the early energy, making all three first-quarter shots and turning two steals into layups. After falling behind 5-2, the Aces answered with a 15-0 run. Young’s pullup 3-pointer prompted a Sparks timeout before Wilson’s layup extended the surge.
Las Vegas forced seven turnovers and outscored Los Angeles 18-4 in the paint during the quarter. Young handed out five assists, while Talbot and Wilson scored six points apiece.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus scored the Aces’ final five points in the last 42 seconds. Her offensive rebound and short jumper with 0.6 seconds remaining made it 24-11. Mai Yamamoto contributed two late steals.
Sparks chip away
Yamamoto opened the second-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer. Later, consecutive threes from Gray and Dana Evans pushed the Aces’ advantage to 35-18 with 4:47 left.
However, the Sparks answered with an 11-0 run, pulling within six on Tonie Morgan’s second 3-pointer. Erica Wheeler scored 10 points in the quarter, and Morgan added eight. Los Angeles shot 10-for-19 and outrebounded Las Vegas 11-5 during the period.
Jewell Loyd stopped the run with a three, and Gray followed with a basket off her own offensive rebound. Young’s short jumper with 3.6 seconds left sent the Aces into halftime ahead 42-33.
Threes create separation
Young directed the third-quarter offense with five more assists as Las Vegas regained breathing room. The Aces assisted on seven of nine baskets and outscored the Sparks 9-2 in transition during the period.
With Los Angeles within 53-45, Wilson hit a 3-pointer before Loyd connected twice from beyond the arc. Those three baskets came in 59 seconds and stretched the lead to 17.
Las Vegas made four of eight threes in the quarter and twice pushed its advantage to 18. The Sparks scored the final four points, trimming the margin to 65-51 entering the fourth.
Aces hold firm
Gray converted a three-point play and later hit from deep to help maintain control. Talbot added another 3-pointer, and Wilson’s jumper made it 78-61 with 5:02 remaining.
The Sparks shot 11-for-18 in the fourth, but Las Vegas committed only one turnover and made six of eight free throws. Wilson scored seven in the period, Gray added six and Young contributed five.
Los Angeles got within nine in the final minute. Parker-Tyus then stole a pass and found Ta’Niya Latson for a layup with 21.5 seconds left.
The Aces finished with 21 assists against 10 turnovers, though their defense was less effective after the opening quarter. Los Angeles scored 68 points over the final three periods and won the rebounding battle 30-29.
Flowers for Ogwumike
Before tipoff, Wilson and the Aces presented Nneka Ogwumike with flowers ahead of her final game in Las Vegas. The retiring forward led the Sparks with 17 points and nine rebounds in her penultimate career game.
Hammon praised both Ogwumike’s playing career and her leadership with the players union during pregame availability.
“She’s just been a powerhouse for this league on and off the court,” Hammon said. “I can’t give that woman enough flowers.”
Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike is recognized alongside Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson and team president and general manager Nikki Fargas before the game on Sept. 22, 2026, at Michelob ULTRA Arena following Ogwumike’s retirement announcement. The Aces presented Ogwumike with flowers before her final game in Las Vegas. Photo credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Playoff picture tightens
Las Vegas moved within one game of Golden State after the Valkyries’ 90-82 overtime loss at Portland on Monday. The Fire outscored Golden State 13-5 in the extra period.
Meanwhile, Minnesota clinched the No. 1 seed despite a 96-77 loss to Indiana. The Fever built a 57-34 halftime lead, then outscored the Lynx 25-13 in the fourth after Minnesota rallied.
Minnesota sits at 32-11, followed by Golden State at 31-12 and Las Vegas at 30-13. The Aces can match the Valkyries’ record with a win Thursday and a Golden State loss in its finale. A tie would leave their seeding subject to the tiebreaker.
Up next
The Aces close the regular season against Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 24, at Mortgage Matchup Center. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Pacific, with coverage listed on USA Network and CNBC.
The Mercury (16-27) enter after an 87-86 victory over Dallas on Monday, when Kahleah Copper scored 31 points. Las Vegas leads the season series 2-1, including a 106-58 home win in July. Phoenix won the first meeting 99-66.
Copper averages 21.6 points, while Alyssa Thomas leads Phoenix with 7.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game. Containing that scoring and playmaking combination offers another test before the postseason.
Hammon said before Tuesday’s game that she was balancing rest with keeping her changing rotation sharp.
“We’re just not a finished product, nor do we want to be,” Hammon said. “We’re still working our way there.”
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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.
