The Las Vegas Aces continued their hot start Thursday night, taking down the Minnesota Lynx 93-87 to improve to 5-1 on the season.
They were led by Jackie Young, who recently signed an extension on her rookie contract that will keep her in Las Vegas for two more years and is worth $165,000 in the first year, according to Her Hoop Stats. Young had a season-high 25 points Thursday, including eight points in the fourth quarter.
For the second game in a row, all five of the Aces’ starters were in double-digits, with Dearica Hamby putting up 14 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double. A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray each had 17 points apiece while Kelsey Plum had 14.
“We’re leaning on each other to get the job done,” Wilson said. “We’re holding each other accountable. The expectations are there, it’s always been there for the Aces but right now we’re really trying to come together in the locker room to make sure we’re doing our job.”
But the team was out-rebounded defensively – Minnesota had 28 defensive rebounds to the Aces’ 23 – and had just one blocked shot to Minnesota’s five.
Aerial Powers had 25 points for the Lynx. Sylvia Fowles, with 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Jessica Shepard, with 14 points and 14 rebounds, each posted a double-double.
“Our defense sucked,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “We were just giving them too many opportunities.”
But it wasn’t all bad. Kayla McBride, who returned from Turkey and helped lead the Lynx to their first win Tuesday, was held scoreless by Wilson.
On offense, the Aces shot 46.3 percent from the field, and Young went 8-for-12. They also made nine 3-pointers to Minnesota’s six.
“Jackie Young was, again, great on both ends of the ball,” Hammon said.