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Young has 32, Wilson 27 and Gray returns to help Aces defeat Storm 94-83

By The Associated Press
Published: June 19, 2024, 9:45pm
4 Photos
Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) shoots a layup against Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd, left, center Ezi Magbegor (13) and guard Victoria Vivians (35) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) shoots a layup against Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd, left, center Ezi Magbegor (13) and guard Victoria Vivians (35) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP) Photo Gallery

LAS VEGAS — Jackie Young scored 32 points, A’ja Wilson added 27 and the Las Vegas Aces celebrated the return of All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray by defeating the Seattle Storm 94-83 on Wednesday night.

Gray, a five-time All-Star and 2020 Olympic gold medal winner who will head to the Paris Games next month, had seven assists, four rebounds and two blocks with one point in 15:30 minutes. Gray missed the first dozen games of the season — as well as the clincher last year when Las Vegas beat the Liberty for its second-straight championship.

“Man I missed this game so much. Never taking it for granted,” Gray said. “It’s a long journey, lots of crying, lots of sleepless nights, a lot of conversations. I’m so thankful to be back on this court.”

Kelsey Plum, the former University of Washington standout, scored 11 points for Las Vegas (7-6), which led by double figures from the 1:53 mark of the first quarter and by as many as 20 points. Tiffany Hayes had 10 points, and Alysha Clark had 10 off the bench.

Young missed her career-high by two points and Wilson had 16 in the fourth quarter, giving her 20-straight games with at least 20 points. The Aces shot 56% (35 of 63) for the game with 25 assists on the 35 baskets.

Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points for the Storm (9-6). Ezi Magbegor had 19 with 13 rebounds, Jordan Horston added 18 and Skylar Diggins-Smith had 10. Jewell Loyd, who led the league in scoring last season at more than 24 points a game and came in averaging just less than 20, missed nine shots and was held to a single point, ending a streak of 55 games in double figures. Loyd scored one point in a loss to Las Vegas on Aug. 7, 2022.

Gray entered the game to a standing ovation with 1:41 to play in the first quarter and 20 seconds later picked up the 1,500th assist of her career when Clark hit a 3-pointer to make it 26-13.

“A lot of love from the fans,” said Gray, the ninth WNBA player to reach 1,500 assists. “They were amazing.”

It was 29-16 at the end of the quarter.

With Young pouring in 19 points, the Aces led 47-32 at the half. Ogwumike had 12 points for the Storm, who had 10 turnovers and shot 41%.

The Aces led by 19, 59-40, in the third quarter when Plum hit a 3-pointer and followed with a layup and Wilson’s layup made it 61-42. Ogwumike had a 3-pointer and Magbegor converted a 3-point play inside the final two minutes and the Storm closed within 66-54 entering the fourth quarter.

The lead was at 20 when Plum fed Wilson for a layup with 4:21 to go. Seattle had a surge to get it back to 11 with 2 1/2 minutes to play but got no closer.

————

Aces 94, Storm 83

LAS VEGAS (94) — Hayes 4-8 1-2 10, Wilson 11-18 5-7 27, Stokes 1-1 0-0 3, Plum 4-8 1-2 11, Young 11-19 8-8 32, Clark 4-5 0-0 10, Carter 0-1 0-0 0, Gustafson 0-1 0-0 0, Colson 0-0 0-0 0, Gray 0-2 1-2 1, Martin 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-63 16-21 94.

Seattle 16 16 22 29 83
Las Vegas 29 18 19 28 94

3-Point Goals—Seattle 4-16 (Ogwumike 1-1, Vivians 1-1, Horston 1-4, Whitcomb 1-4, Diggins-Smith 0-1, Holmes 0-1, Magbegor 0-1, Loyd 0-3), Las Vegas 8-20 (Clark 2-3, Plum 2-5, Young 2-6, Stokes 1-1, Hayes 1-3, Gray 0-1, Gustafson 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Seattle 32 (Magbegor 13), Las Vegas 29 (Wilson 9). Assists—Seattle 21 (Diggins-Smith 6), Las Vegas 25 (Plum 8). Total Fouls—Seattle 16, Las Vegas 19. A—10,380 (12,000)

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