Victorious Aces put on show for fans in home opener

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, May 21, 2021 | 10:36 p.m.

The Las Vegas Aces’ frontcourt usually gets most of the attention and with good reason, as the franchise is built around star forwards A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage. But on Friday it was the team’s explosive backcourt that powered them to a 97-69 win over Los Angeles in the 2021 home opener for the Aces.

Fans were in attendance in a limited capacity at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay, and they got their share of highlight-worthy plays — most of them courtesy of guards Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young.

Gray, an offseason free-agent acquisition, ran the fast break to perfection and finished with 18 points and six assists, both team highs. Young, a third-year guard (and former No. 1 overall pick) drove into the lane relentlessly on her way to 17 points.

It was the second straight win for Las Vegas (2-1), with the two victories coming by an average of 22 points. That’s how dominant this team has the potential to be, especially when its guards are providing a spark.

Gray and Young combined to make 12 of 16 shots from the field.

Head coach Bill Laimbeer liked what he saw from his backcourt and believes they will get even better throughout the course of the season as they learn to work together.

“Jackie is improving every day,” Laimbeer said. “Chelsea Gray is learning her way now, both being the lead guard and the 2-guard. It’s a work in progress. We’re learning about each other and we’re making good progress.”

The Aces started slowly and trailed for most of the first quarter, until Gray assisted on back-to-back fast-break layups, first feeding Dearica Hamby and then Wilson to put Las Vegas in front, 16-15. That sequence launched the Aces into a 13-5 run to finish the quarter, and they never trailed again.

Early in the second quarter, Young drove into the lane and elevated for an elbow jumper and was fouled on the shot; she converted the and-1 free throw to push the Aces’ advantage to 35-22. Midway through the quarter, Wilson and Cambage scored consecutive post baskets (Cambage’s was an and-1) to make it 45-24.

Led by Gray’s nifty passing, Las Vegas recorded 18 assists as a team.

When asked if she was impressed by Gray’s performance, Wilson demurred.

“Impressed? Nahhh,” Wilson said in a lighthearted tone. “That’s Chelsea, that’s who she is. I wasn’t blown away because that’s who she is. I’m glad she’s on our side now.”

Wilson, the WNBA’s reigning MVP, posted 17 points and eight rebounds, while Hamby, the two-time reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.

Las Vegas shot 53.2% from the field (33 of 62) while holding Los Angeles to 36.5% (27 of 74). The Aces combined to block 12 shots, and Nneka Ogwumike was the only Sparks player to score in double figures with 19 points.

Young is now averaging 16.7 points through three games, and Wilson is already promoting her for the league’s Most Improved Player award (“Let’s get the hashtag started,” Wilson said after the game).

Young said she’s focusing on her all-around contributions more than her scoring.

“I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my team win, whether it’s scoring, rebounds or assists. I’m just trying to come in and be aggressive, that’s the biggest thing.”

The Aces will be back in action on Sunday when they host the Connecticut Sun.

Wilson said taking the court in front of supportive fans for the first time since 2019 was a cathartic experience.

“When we ran out I really had no choice but to just smile because I just missed it,” Wilson said. “I missed everything about it. We missed everything about it. To have the home crowd there behind us was a big, big impact.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.