The Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces played each other in their respective second game of the season on Saturday. The Sparks tried to take down the 2023 WNBA champions as visitors, with Dearica Hamby feasting against the Aces’ big women.

Besides Hamby’s 29 points, Lexie Brown added 16 points, while Kia Nurse contributed 13 points. Los Angeles looked poised to make a statement against Las Vegas, but Aja Wilson had different plans, leading her squad to the second win of the season.

The forward led the way with 22 points, 10 rebounds and one assist, while Jackie Young added 22 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. Kelsey Plum didn’t stay behind and scored 17 points.

This game started with the Sparks trying to shock the Aces, winning the first quarter 18-16. The Aces returned from that deficit and won at Michelob ULTRA Arena, 89-82

LA Sparks vs LV Aces player stats and box score

LA Sparks player stats and box score

LV Aces player stats and box score

 


LA Sparks vs LV Aces Game Summary

 

The LA Sparks vs LV Aces duel started with the visitors hoping to get a surprise win against the best team in the league. They did put on a fight against the Aces, but the defending WNBA champions held off in a hard-fought matchup to get the second win of the season.

Despite shooting a combined 51.5% from the field, 9% more than the Aces, the Sparks couldn’t do a lot of damage. The Aces took advantage of the long shots (41.9% against 35.7% of the Aces) to secure this win.

Los Angeles saw Rickea Jackson turning into an unexpected hero, scoring 13 points off the bench, trying to help Dearica Hamby and her 29 points that almost upset the Aces.

Cameron Brink played her second WNBA game, and although she couldn’t score more than three points, the No. 2 overall pick contributed in other areas of the game. Brink grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots, but her offense wasn’t there today. She barely made one shot in seven attempts from the field and couldn’t make any of her two three-point attempts.

The Aces remain the team to beat in the league after escaping this game with the dub. Four of their five starters scored in double digits and showed up at the right moment when the Sparks tried to take over the game in the final seconds.