The Las Vegas Aces took on the Los Angeles Sparks last night at the Mandalay Events Center on The Strip. The Sparks entered the game in first place with an 11-4 record and it was the first time the Sparks faced the Aces this season. The underdog Aces upset the Sparks, winning 94-78.
The Aces (6-11) have now won five of their last nine games, after starting the season with just two wins in their first 10 games, and are just two wins away from matching last season’s entire win total in San Antonio. Rookie of the Year candidate A’Ja Wilson dominated the ballgame with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Kelsey Plum added 14 points and nine rebound while Kayla McBride contributed 12 points and seven boards in the Aces’ quality victory over the Sparks.
Former No. 1 draft picks go head to head
There was plenty of anticipation heading into the game as two of the best forwards in the league were slated to face off against each other on the court. Wilson was expected to match up against seven-year veteran, Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike was forced to the bench with a back injury, though, and did not play in the game. The two will collide again July 1, when the Aces travel to Los Angeles. The matchup is expected to be the beginning of a classic rivlary. Both were No. 1 draft picks. and are leading the league in various statistical categories. Ogwumike is ranked third in field goal percentage with a .584 average and is also ranked fifth in steals (1.5 SPG). Wilson is ranked third in the league in points per game with an average of 20.2 and is ranked third in rebounds with an average of 8.9 per game.Ogwumike’s team has obviously been more successful in the past, but if Wilson can dominate and keep scoring points as usual it would definitely give the Aces a better chance to beat the number one team.
