FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Wings - WNBA Playoffs Semifinals - Game 1 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Wings – WNBA Playoffs Semifinals – Game 1 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (34-6) | Dallas Wings (22-18)

 

The Las Vegas Aces take Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals against the Dallas Wings, 97-83.

The Aces vs Wings played at the Michelob ULTRA Arena on Sunday.

2023 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year A’ja Wilson totaled 34 points (15-of-21 FGs), eight rebounds, two steals, and four blocks to lead the first-seeded Las Vegas Aces in their 97-83 WNBA Semifinal Game 1 victory over the fourth-seeded Dallas Wings.

This was the second time in WNBA playoffs history that a player shot 70 percent or better on 20 or more shot attempts (the other instance also belongs to Wilson).

This game also marked just the seventh time in WNBA playoffs history that a team has finished a game with shooting splits of 50 percent (FGs), 40 percent (3s), and 100 percent (FTs) or better.

“We live with good shots, and we know we’re going to knock them down,” Wilson said. “Tonight, we all got to our spots, and we all created for one another. And that’s how we all started to pull away.”

Also for Las Vegas, Kelsey Plum added 25 points (8-of-15 FGs, 5-of-10 3s), five rebounds, and four assists, while Jackie Young poured in a near triple-double with 19 points (6-of-10 FGs, 5-of-6 3s), ten rebounds, and seven assists, and Chelsea Gray contributed 13 points (5-of-13 FGs, 0-of-3 3s).

The Aces handled business against the Wings 

Young’s 19 points and ten rebounds were the first double-double of her playoff career, and her rebound total eclipsed her former playoff career best.

It was the start of the Aces vs Wings first half. 

Leading the Wings, Satou Sabally had a team-high 16 points (5-of-14 FGs, 4-of-6 3s), seven rebounds, and seven assists. 

Despite the loss, five other players for Dallas reached the double-figure mark in points: Arike Ogunbowale (12), Natasha Howard (11), Crystal Dangerfield (10), Kalani Brown (10), and Odyssey Sims (10).

Behind six points apiece from Wilson and Young, the Aces took a 14-6 lead midway through the first quarter. However, the Wings countered with an 11-2 run to take the lead at 17-16. 

A put-back from Wilson retook the lead for the Aces, and Las Vegas never again trailed. Wilson finished the first period with 10 points. The Aces made 50 percent of their field goal attempts, while Dallas was held to 32 percent.

Dallas trailed by one point with just two minutes into the second quarter, 27-26. However, Wilson took over, scoring six consecutive points in a 9-1 Aces run to put Las Vegas up by nine, 36-27. 

The end of the Aces vs Wings first half. 

For the remainder of the first half, the Aces maintained their lead. Both teams shot well, with Las Vegas making 66.7 percent of their field goal attempts while the Wings netted 58.5 percent of theirs.

The start of the Aces vs Wings second half. 

The Aces picked up their first double-digit lead of the game in the third quarter, 57-47, after getting back-to-back 3s from Plum. Despite that, Dallas didn’t back down, responding with a 10-2 run. However, Las Vegas outpaced the Wings for the remainder of the quarter. 

“Shots are going to go in, not go in,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon. “Nobody’s out there trying to miss. Sometimes, you can help that part of the game. But you can always be on defensively with effort focus. That third quarter, I’d love to bottle that up.”

Wilson continued to dominate, leading all scorers in the third frame with 14 points. The Aces held Dallas to 30.8 percent from the field while nailing 50 percent of their attempts.

“That third quarter, Vegas punched us pretty hard in that area,” Wings coach Latricia Trammell said. “We had 12 turnovers. Most people would think that’s pretty good, especially when you play fast. But they scored 21 points off those turnovers.”

The Wings cut into the Aces’ lead to start the final period, but three-straight 3-pointers extended Las Vegas’ advantage to 86-66 with 6:09 remaining. The Aces held off Dallas through the final buzzer for the 97-83 win.

The final score of the Aces vs Wings was, 97-83.

The Las Vegas Aces will stay at home for Game 2 against the Dallas Wings on Tuesday, September 26th, at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at 7 p.m. PST.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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