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Michael Voepel
The Las Vegas Aces are heading into the WNBA playoffs riding a wave of momentum with a 16-game victorious stretch, marking the longest such streak to conclude the regular season in the league’s history.
Las Vegas triumphed over Los Angeles with a score of 103-75 on Thursday, culminating in a 30-14 record and securing the No. 2 seed for the postseason. The Aces are set to host Game 1 of their playoff series against No. 7 Seattle on Sunday (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET).
The Aces established a new WNBA regular-season record with 22 successful 3-point shots on Thursday, featuring seven from Jewell Loyd, five from Jackie Young, and three each from Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson. The Aces also currently hold the playoff record for 3-pointers made with 23, achieved in 2022.
Wilson presented a compelling case for her potential fourth MVP award, concluding with 23 points, 19 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 blocks against the Sparks. She achieved a league-leading average of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, becoming the first player in league history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in multiple seasons. She also reached this milestone last season, which culminated in her third MVP award.
Wilson has been the league’s top scorer for the past two seasons.
The Aces have maintained an undefeated record since their 53-point loss at home against Minnesota on Aug. 2. Their current streak is tied with the 2014 Phoenix Mercury for the second-longest in WNBA history, surpassed only by the 2001 Los Angeles Sparks’ 18-game winning streak. The Mercury and Sparks both secured the WNBA championship in their respective seasons.
Aces coach Becky Hammon, who competed against both of those teams during her WNBA career, offered a historical context to the Aces’ accomplishments.
“This is a unique group, a team that had to discover their synergy,” said Hammon, whose Aces held a 14-14 record before embarking on their winning streak. “There have been many exceptional teams in this league. Lisa Leslie of the Sparks has solidified herself as one of the greatest centers to ever play the game.
“And now, we’re witnessing A’ja, Chelsea, Jackie… Jewell has delivered exceptional performances coming off the bench for the past month. Everyone is contributing effectively in their assigned roles. We’re consistently stringing together strong quarters. Maintaining presence and focus is crucial for achieving these streaks, and they’re entirely locked in at the moment.”
Hammon noted that the abundance of 3-point shots made was a direct result of the Aces’ exceptional ball movement, which led to numerous open scoring opportunities.
The Aces recorded 35 assists, with Young leading the way with 12 and Gray contributing 10. This marks the third instance of two WNBA teammates each achieving at least 10 assists in a single game, and Gray has been involved in all three occurrences: in 2023 with then-teammate Kelsey Plum for Las Vegas and in 2017 with Odyssey Sims when both were with Los Angeles.
Young, sporting an “M’VP” hat in recognition of Wilson after the game, expressed that the winning streak reflects the mindset the Aces have adopted since their turnaround began.
“Everyone is playing with a high level of selflessness,” Young stated. “Coach consistently emphasizes the importance of elevating from ‘good to great.’ While you might have a good shot, an extra pass could provide your teammate with an even better shot. We’re enjoying ourselves, playing with considerable energy, and dictating the pace of the game to our liking.”
