Las Vegas Sun

April 15, 2024

Aces blow fourth quarter lead, drop WNBA opener to Chicago

BRADENTON, Fla. — Kahleah Copper scored 18 points, Allie Quigley hit a 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds to play, and the Chicago Sky scored the final 11 points to beat the Las Vegas Aces 88-86 on Sunday in the season opener for both teams.

Gabby Williams had 14 points for Chicago, Azura Stevens added 12 and Quigley, whose 3 gave the Sky their first lead since midway through the second quarter, finished with 10.

Angel McCoughtry, who signed with the Aces as a free agent in February after missing all of last season with the Atlanta Dream due to a knee injury, scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds. A'ja Wilson had 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Dearica Hamby made a layup to give Las Vegas an 86-77 lead with 4:29 to play but the Aces went 0 for 10 from the field with three turnovers from there.

The Aces scored 10 straight points to open the second half and take a 58-46 lead. Chicago used a 10-3 spurt to make it 71-all when Quigley hit a 3-pointer with 9:14 to play but McCoughtry answered with a three-point play and then a jumper before Jackie Young made a layup to push the lead back to seven.

Las Vegas is without three-time All-Star Liz Cambage (health concerns) and Kelsey Plum (Achilles tendon) for the season.

The 2020 WNBA season, delayed and shortened by the coronavirus pandemic, will be played in a bubble at the IMG Academy in Florida.