Weekend Recap: Aces use big second quarter to dispatch Storm

The Las Vegas Aces moved within half a game in the standings behind the Seattle Storm, winning a close head-to-head matchup 82-74. The Aces outscored the Storm 26-11 in the second quarter which held the Storm at bay the rest of the game.

A’ja Wilson recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 23 points and 14 points. Angel McCoughtry recorded her first double-double as a member of the Aces with 13 points and 14 rebounds which tied a career-high. Danielle Robinson came off the bench to score 16 points and contributed seven assists, her fourth game in double figures this season.

The game’s high scorer was Breanna Stewart with 29 points and a career-high 18 rebounds but Stewart was 10-of-25 from the field. Natasha Howard continued to play out of her slow start to the season scoring 16 points and contributed nine rebounds. Jewell Loyd followed her best game of the season with her worst game of the season with just three points on 1-of-11 shooting.

The Aces, especially A’ja Wilson, were just more aggressive than the Storm, proof in their 20-of-25 effort from the free throw line whereas the Storm were just 11-of-14. Wilson was 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. The Storm will walk away from this one haunted by their 7-of-26 effort from beyond the arc.

Up next

The Aces and the Storm both return to action Tuesday, August 25 before facing each other again on Thursday, August 27. The Aces face the Dallas Wings in their next game while the Storm take on the Indiana Fever.

The weekend’s other action

Kaleah Copper’s career game and Chicago Sky’s fast start beats the Indiana Fever | 87-76

A career-high 26 points by Kaleah Copper and a 15-point first quarter lead by the Chicago Sky were instrumental in beating the Indiana Fever. Candice Dupree led the Fever with 18 points. Although the Fever shot 53.7 percent on the night, it was their 4-of-16 performance from the 3-point area that was their downfall. | Box Score

The Connecticut Sun out-execute the sloppy New York Liberty in big win | 82-65

The Connecticut Sun shot 44.6 percent from the floor to the New York Liberty’s 37.0 percent, and the Sun made 13 more shots and attempted an additional 20 shots in comparison to the Liberty. Additionally, the Liberty committed 18 turnovers which led to 33 points for the Sun. The Sun’s Alyssa Thomas’ 25 points led all scorers. | Box Score

Last second stop ends Atlanta Dream’s 10-game losing streak; beat the Minnesota Lynx | 78-75

The Atlanta Dream forced Crystal Dangerfield into an off-balance heave from beyond the arc that sealed the win. The Dream overcame an 11-point halftime deficit in the third quarter on the strength of 58.8 third period shooting performance. Monique Billings’ recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Betnijah Laney contributed her second straight double-double with 16 points and 10 assists. | Box Score

Sykes, Parker lead the Los Angeles Sparks’ fourth quarter comeback over Dallas Wings | 84-81

Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 23 points as Candace Parker stuffed the box score with her seventh double-double of the season with 22 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. The Sparks trailed by 10 points early in the fourth, 71-61 with eight and a half minutes to play and five minutes later a Te’a Cooper 3-point shot put the Sparks up for good, 79-76. | Box Score

Taurasi’s big night leads the Phoenix Mercury over the Washington Mystics| 88-87

Diana Taurasi, who wore No. 8 to honor Kobe Bryant’s birthday, scored a season-high 34 points with seven made 3-point shots, just one off her career-high. Kia Vaughn, Brittney Griner’s replacement, scored 16 points, her best game of the season so far. Brianna Turner scored eight points but recorded a career-high 17 rebounds. The Mystics’ 14 made 3-points shots kept them in it but it was not enough. | Box Score