FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Sky - Game 35 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Sky – Game 35 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (25-10)  |  Chicago Sky (25-10)

 

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Chicago Sky on Thursday night to reclaim the first seed in the WNBA playoff picture. Keep reading to learn more about the win.

 

RECAP

 

A year ago, the Las Vegas Aces became the first team in WNBA history to have seven players average at least 10.0 points per game. It was almost an embarrassment of riches how many different ways they could turn to create offense. And while the story hasn’t been quite the same this season, Thursday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena was a reminder that these Aces cans still attack you from anywhere.

For example — the first quarter was all about potential two-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson. She scored seven of Vegas‘ first nine points to help thrust the Aces out in front early. Unfortunately, her scoring mostly stalled the rest of the game. But as the Sky made it a priority to slow Wilson and close the gap during the second quarter, Kelsey Plum, in a garage of ways, poured in 11 points in the frame to keep Chicago at a distance.

And the story remained the same in quarter No. 3, with Jackie Young bullying her way to the midrange and dropping an easy-looking 16 points. And in the end, the Sky couldn’t quite muster up another gigantic comeback as the Aces closed the night with an 89-78 win.

“I thought tonight, people were tremendous,” said Kelsey Plum after the win. “Everyone did things in spurts. I think that’s what makes our team special is that someone’s hot in the first quarter, and then someone picks up right where they left off. I thought Jackie Young really carried us down the stretch. Chelsea Gray is the most clutch player in the world, I don’t care what anyone says. And you got A’ja doing MVP things.”

 

But for as much of an evenly distributed game the Aces‘ offense played, the real hero of the night was their defense. Their defense held Chicago‘s offense to only 78 points by forcing the Sky into 17 turnovers and limiting them to just three 3-point makes.

In the Aces‘ three wins over Chicago, including the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game (although that doesn’t count towards the regular-season statistics), Vegas has held Candace Parker and the Sky‘s potent offensive attack to below 80.0 points per game. Perhaps non-playoff wins mean very little in the grand scheme of things, but at least the Aces know they can beat the Sky should a matchup between the No. 1 and 2 teams in the league meet in the Finals.

With one game left on the schedule, the Aces have reclaimed the top spot in the WNBA standings. A win on Sunday against the Seattle Storm would keep them in first and set them up with a first-round date against the No. 8 seed. However, a loss could still keep them in first, depending on the outcome of Chicago‘s final game, but could also drop them back to second place, thus giving them a first-round matchup with the No. 7 seed.

Time will tell.

 

KEY PERFORMERS:

 

Jackie Young (Aces) – 22 PTS, 5 REBS, 2 ASTS, 1 BLK

Kelsey Plum (Aces) – 25 PTS, 5 ASTS, 4/5 3PT

Candace Parker (Sky) – 15 PTS, 12 REBS, 6 ASTS, 1 STL, 1 BLK

Kahleah Copper (Sky) – 28 PTS, 4 REBS, 3 ASTS

 

The Aces conclude the 2022 WNBA regular season on Sunday, with a 12 pm tip-off on ABC against the Seattle Storm. A win gives the Aces the number one seed in the playoffs.

 

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-Cole Huff– Franchise Sports Media