One of the Commissioner’s Cup championship slots have been filled, with the Las Vegas Aces clinching the Western Conference spot on Wednesday following a 92-84 win over the Dallas Wings.
Down at the half, and by as much as 15 at one point, the Aces used a 31-point third quarter to fuel their comeback.
Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson dominated the court, combining for 52 points. Plum had 27 points and four rebounds while Wilson added 25 points and four blocks. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 28 points and four assists.
Las Vegas is currently 8-0 in Cup play while leading the league with a 12-2 overall record. Although the East has yet to be clinched, Chicago leads the Cup standings in the Eastern Conference with a 7-0 record.
The Aces clinching the spot means that there will be a new Cup champion. Last year, Seattle took down Connecticut in the inaugural championship. Players are competing for a $500,000 prize pool, with the winners earning up to $30,000 per player.
“I do love that there’s extra incentive for the players,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the Commissioner’s Cup. “Anytime the league can throw a little bit of extra cash the players’ way, I’m all for it.”