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How the Aces came from behind to win a WNBA playoff classic

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 04: Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Seattle Storm during the third quarter of Game Three of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs semifinals at Climate Pledge Arena on September 04, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Becky Hammon positioned herself behind the microphone and shook her head.

“It was a hell of a game,” the Las Vegas Aces coach said of her team’s WNBA semifinal contest. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of something like that. The back and forth, it was a battle.”

A few minutes later, she racked her brain again.

Hammon played in 450 WNBA games during her 16 seasons between the New York Liberty and San Antonio Silver Stars. Then she spent eight years as an assistant coach alongside Gregg Popovich with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. But in all her years of professional basketball, she can recall no game that tops the 110-98 overtime win her Aces secured over the Storm on Sunday in Seattle.

“I can’t think of a back-and-forth between two heavyweights like this game,” she said. “I mean, it was just big shot after big shot after big shot. You get two players that are in the prime of their careers, MVP candidates (Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson) just going at it. You really can’t draw it up any better from a spectator viewpoint.”

No script or screenplay can compare to what basketball fans witnessed Sunday.

The game didn’t start that way. The Aces opened on a tear, building a 15-point lead late in the second quarter. But the Storm refused to go down easy. Not on their home court. Not with Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart. Not in the playoffs.

So, they made a comeback.

A Stewart layup with 4:48 left in the third quarter tied the game at 52. From there, the battle was on. The teams traded baskets and leads for the next 14 minutes and 38 seconds.

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(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

With 11.3 seconds left on the clock in regulation, though, the Storm seemed to have victory in hand. Jewell Loyd had sunk two free throws to give her team an 89-85 lead. The Aces would need two possessions to catch up to Seattle, and time was running out.

But Hammon was not ready to concede. She called a timeout and drew up a play. And the Aces executed it to perfection.

“All season I’ve had the luxury of being able to draw something, and stuff they’ve never seen before and they can go out and do it,” Hammon said. “That’s a skill set and a luxury, because I can kind of read what they are doing defensively and draw the play accordingly.”

Riquna Williams cut off a screen at the top of the key and swished a 3-pointer for the Aces. Bird threw up her hands, frustrated with the defensive effort from the Storm.

Williams averaged just 6.7 points this season, but she proved the ideal player to catch and shoot in that situation. She finished with 14 points off the bench for Las Vegas, including a 4-for-8 performance from beyond the arc.

Then, with 2.9 seconds left to play, Wilson — who led the Aces with 34 points and 11 rebounds — drove to the hoop, completing a step-through that gave her team a 90-89 lead. But the five-point swing wasn’t enough to close out a win. Instead, Bird drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to put her team back up 92-90, forcing the Aces to call another timeout and draw up another play.

This time Jackie Young played the hero, scoring a layup for the Aces as time expired to send the game to overtime.

“They scored five points in five seconds,” Bird said of the Williams and Wilson buckets. “I understand that the last plays are going to stick out because they’re dramatic and exciting, and I’m sure it was great TV, but we were up four.”

In between the Williams 3-pointer and the Wilson score in the paint, Seattle’s Tina Charles — who shoots 88.5 percent from the line — missed a pair of free throws. That, combined with Seattle’s missteps on defense, allowed Las Vegas to force overtime.

Once the extra period started, the excitement of the back-and-forth affair transitioned to all-out dominance from the Aces.

“That was a lot of momentum,” Chelsea Gray said. “We said in the huddle that the momentum was on our side, and going into overtime we were ready. We came out locked in for those five minutes.”

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Chelsea Gray scored a playoff career-high 29 points. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Gray spearheaded the attack, scoring eight points in the last 2:06 of overtime and helping the Aces outscore the Storm 18-6 in the frame. She finished the game with 29 points, a new playoff career high, as well as 12 assists and five rebounds.

“Chelsea is special in certain situations,” Hammon said. “What a luxury. You can just give her the ball and she is going to make something happen.”

As a unit, the Aces showed balance and poise down the stretch, the combination of which makes them a favorite to win the WNBA title — though three other formidable teams would like to challenge that notion, including the Storm.

In overtime, Las Vegas went 6-for-9 from the field, with a well-rounded offense that included three 3-pointers and three makes around the rim. Gray, Plum, Wilson and Kiah Stokes all scored in the period.

The Storm also displayed balance in regulation, with six players in double figures, but that didn’t translate into overtime in the same way the Aces’ attack did. Seattle went 3-for-10 in extra time, getting four points from Stewart and two from Loyd.

Because the Aces kept their cool through a frantic finish to regulation and then dominated overtime, they snagged the road win in a hostile environment. They also grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five series and took one step closer to the WNBA Finals.

“At the end of the day, we’ve got to stay locked in,” Wilson said. “We are playing in a hard place to play, but that’s how champions are born.”

Eden Laase is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @eden_laase.

UEFA Draw Sets Champions League Quarterfinals

The UEFA Champions League trophy sits on display before the 2024/25 quarterfinals draw.
Eight teams' paths to May's Champions League final in Lisbon were determined in Friday's draw. (Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The 2024/25 Champions League quarterfinals are officially set, with UEFA drawing the remaining eight teams into the field early Friday morning.

The annual season-long competition pits Europe's top leagues against each other. This season, 72 clubs across 50 different leagues qualified for the contest. From the UK to Ukraine, all teams have been vying for the continent's top-dog status amidst a cutthroat atmosphere and a growing sense of parity in the sport.

Two qualifying rounds narrowed the initial teams down to the 16 contending in the tournament's official group stage. Each played six group-stage matches from October through December to determine the eight clubs that advanced to Friday's final draw.

A screen shows the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal pairings at Friday's draw.
Four previous champions made the 2024/25 Champions League quarterfinals. (Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The road to Champions League glory in Lisbon

All remaining clubs are now eyeing the May 24th final in Lisbon, Portugal, and Friday's draw mapped each team's path to that championship match. The 2024/25 quarterfinals will feature four former champions and four seeking a first-ever trophy, with both familiar fights and rarely tested toss-ups on deck.

Both the March quarterfinals and April semifinals employ a two-leg format, offering teams who suffer narrow first losses a shot at second-match redemption.

Friday's draw determined that WSL contenders Arsenal will kick off the tournament's quarterfinals against Real Madrid on March 18th, with Germany's Bayern Munich taking on France's 2024 UWCL runners-up Olympique Lyonnais shortly afterwards.

The following day, Bayern's Frauen-Bundesliga foes Wolfsburg will face Spain's 2024 UWCL champs FC Barcelona. Closing out the initial tilts is a WSL standoff between Manchester City and the UK league's undefeated titans Chelsea FC.

Lyon's Michele Kang, president of the winningest Champions League team in history, speaks to the media after Friday's UEFA draw.
Backed by club president Michele Kang, Lyon will seek its record ninth UWCL title this year. (Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Increased global parity to test UWCL dynasties

With eight of the tournament's 23 titles under their belts, Lyon is the winningest team in UWCL history. Meanwhile, current back-to-back champions Barcelona claimed three of the last four trophies.

Despite the recent two-team domination, capturing this season's title will be a challenge. Hoping to spoil Lyon's and Barcelona's dynastic runs is four first-time title-hunters, plus two-time winners Wolfsburg and early champion Arsenal — who won the trophy in 2007, when the tournament was called the UEFA Women's Cup.

All in all, the European crown has never been tougher to claim, with leagues across the continent increasingly stocking up on standout — and potentially game-changing — players from beyond their borders.

Portland Announces Joint NWSL x WNBA Training Center

A rendering of the outside of the proposed NWSL x WNBA performance complex in Portland.
The Portland facility will be the first shared WNBA-NWSL performance complex under the same ownership. (RAJ Sports/Populous)

Portland is going all in on women's sports, with RAJ Sports — the ownership group behind both the NWSL's Thorns and Portland's incoming WNBA team — announcing the development of a new $150 million sports performance complex on Thursday.

The 12-acre dual-sport performance center will be the first-ever facility housing both a pro women's soccer squad and a pro women's basketball team.

Innovation and amenities lead Portland design

At 63,000 square feet, the incoming NWSL x WNBA training facility will feature two basketball courts, two soccer pitches, a 17,000-square-foot practice gym, a state-of-the-art strength training facility, and a laundry list of additional top-of-the-line amenities.

According to the Thorns' announcement, the center aims to "[elevate] the standard of athletic development by integrating cutting-edge training, advanced recovery, and holistic wellness with lifestyle elements specific to the needs of female athletes in a collaborative multi-team setting."

The wellness additions include recovery lounges and pools, hyperbaric therapy, red-light therapy, and a yoga and pilates room, plus access to a full-time chef and nutritionist via the center's kitchen and dining hall.

"This kind of high-performance training facility allows us to elevate every part of our game, becoming better and more well-rounded athletes," said Thorns forward Sophia Wilson (née Smith).

"Having a space designed specifically for female athletes gives us yet another leg up on the competition and will be vital to our future successes."

A rendering of the basketball court in the proposed Portland performance complex.
The WNBA and NWSL performance complex adds Portland to a growing list of women's sports facilities. (RAJ Sports/Populous)

Portland joins other WNBA and NWSL teams building own facilities

Portland is just the latest in a wave of women's teams across top-tier US leagues breaking ground on dedicated performance facilities.

Earlier this week, WNBA newcomer Golden State unveiled their own custom-built Valkyries Performance Center. Last month, NWSL side Angel City cut the ribbon on their dedicated training facility.

RAJ Sports’ effort to continue the investment trend comes barely a year after their January 2024 purchase of the Thorns. That move was finalized a little over eight months before the WNBA accepted their expansion bid, making the Bhathal family — who also have a stake in the NBA's Sacramento Kings — the first-ever ownership group to oversee pro women's teams in two different sports.

Las Vegas Aces Revamp Roster with Offseason Moves

Las Vegas Aces standouts Sydney Colson and Tiffany Hayes race downcourt during a 2024 game.
Both Sydney Colson and Tiffany Hayes are departing Las Vegas this season. (David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)

WNBA roster shakeups kept rolling this week, with a deluge of moves radically reshaping the 2022 and 2023 league champion Las Vegas Aces.

After three seasons in Las Vegas, backup guard and popular locker room presence Sydney Colson signed a one-year deal with Indiana on Thursday. The Fever, who've been aggressive about inking athletes they believe will bring a title back to Indianapolis, targeted Colson for her veteran experience.

"[Colson] brings a championship pedigree to the Fever, adding depth to our point guard position, said Fever COO and GM Amber Cox in the team's announcement. "We have the utmost confidence in her ability to step into any situation and deliver on both ends of the floor."

Joining Colson in leaving Las Vegas is forward Alysha Clark. A key factor in the Aces' 2023 title run — which ultimately earned her the WNBA's Sixth Woman of the Year award — Clark is returning to the Seattle Storm, where she played from 2012 to 2020.

The Aces are also losing their 2024 Sixth Woman of the Year, Tiffany Hayes. Despite the Aces protecting her in December's expansion draft, the free agent guard will take her talents to incoming franchise Golden State. There, she'll link up with former Las Vegas assistant coach-turned-Valkyries boss Natalie Nakase.

"Having coached Tiffany last season in Las Vegas, I know firsthand the impact she brings both on and off the court," Nakase noted. "Her versatility, intensity, and ability to score will be invaluable as we build our team's identity."

Atlanta's Cheyenne Parker-Tyus guards Las Vegas's A'ja Wilson during a 2024 WNBA game.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus will join A'ja Wilson in the Aces' front court this season. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Las Vegas Aces take aim at refreshed dynasty

After falling short of a three-peat championship last season — despite three-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson's outstanding 2024 performance — a significant Aces roster reshuffling was all but guaranteed ahead of the 2025 season.

Las Vegas kicked things off by shipping All-Star guard Kelsey Plum off to the LA Sparks last month. The blockbuster three-team trade sent Seattle's two-time champ Jewell Loyd to the Aces in return.

To shore up their front-court, Las Vegas inked 6-foot-4 power forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus on Thursday. The 2023 All-Star averaged 15 points and 6.7 rebounds for Atlanta that season, and was on her way to matching that production last year when an ankle injury curbed her 2024 run.

Ultimately, Las Vegas's roller coaster offseason reflects both the WNBA's shifting landscape and the Aces' quest to revive their former dynasty, hoping a fresh start can fuel them all the way to another league title in 2025.

Tennessee Upsets NCAA Rival UConn in Vols’ First Top 10 Win

Tennessee basketball players Jewel Spear and Zee Spearman celebrate their 80-76 upset win over UConn.
Tennessee scored their first win over UConn since 2007. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

No. 19 Tennessee notched the first major win of their Kim Caldwell era on Thursday night, stifling No. 5 UConn 80-76 to capture their first Top 10 basketball victory of the season — and first win over the Huskies since 2007.

Bolstered by a 13-0 run in the third quarter, Tennessee out-rebounded UConn 46-34 to hold the Huskies at bay.

On defense, the Vols managed to limit UConn star and projected 2025 WNBA Draft No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers to just 5-of-16 from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc.

"We had poise down the stretch. I think we played with confidence. I think we played to win, as opposed to afraid to lose," commented first-year Tennessee head coach Caldwell after the game.

Tennessee flips the historic rivalry script against UConn

Once one of the most heated historic rivalries in NCAA basketball, Tennessee and UConn met 22 times from 1995 to 2007. The Huskies took 13 victories over that stretch.

Since the teams rebooted their non-conference series in 2020, UConn has taken the win in all four meetings — until Tennessee halted the Huskies on Thursday.

A big upset win from the Vols has felt increasingly inevitable this season, as Tennessee has come wildly close to claiming multiple top-tier upsets. They fell to No. 4 Texas by just four points, No. 6 LSU by two points, and logged one-point losses against both No. 15 Oklahoma and No. 24 Vanderbilt.

Last week, the Vols lost to No. 2 South Carolina 70-63. Subsequently, Tennessee became just the second team to limit the reigning NCAA champs to a single-digit win this season.

Despite Tennessee’s recent rise, Thursday's result was a blow to UConn. The Huskies are now 21-3 in 2024/25 play, with all three losses coming against Top 10 teams. UConn likely has just one regular-season Top 10 matchup left by way of a February 16th clash with South Carolina.

"The bottom line is we have some players on our team that are supposed to be our best players and they've got to play better. That's all there is to it," said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma in response.

South Carolina's Bree Hall defends Texas guard Madison Booker during a 2024 NCAA basketball game.
Texas and South Carolina will meet in a Top-4 matchup on Sunday. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

How to watch top-ranked NCAA basketball this weekend

As tough as the SEC has been, there's little rest for the weary, with No. 19 Tennessee gearing up for a rematch with No. 6 LSU at 4 PM ET on Sunday. Live coverage will air on ESPN.

In Top 10 weekend action, No. 8 Ohio State will cap their West Coast trip against No. 7 USC at 9 PM ET on Saturday, live on Fox Sports.

Then on Sunday, No. 4 Texas will host No. 2 South Carolina at 2 PM ET, with ESPN broadcasting live.

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