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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.

Sophia Smith re-signs with Portland on record deal

(Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports)

Sophia Smith is now the NWSL’s highest-paid player. 

The Portland Thorns announced on Wednesday that they have signed Smith to a new contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the team did reveal that Smith is now the highest-paid player in the league on an annual basis.

It’s the latest in what has been a series of record-breaking contracts in the NWSL offseason. 

Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multi-year deals worth between $2 million and $2.5 million in total. While Smith’s contract is shorter and not worth as much over the long-term, the annual worth is higher. 

“We are over the moon to have Soph commit again to the Thorns. She is a proven, world-class talent and one that we are excited to have contribute to the team’s continued success,” said head coach Mike Norris in a statement. “We look forward to working with her in a Thorns jersey as she continues to shine as one of the top strikers in the world.”

In just four seasons in the NWSL, Smith has led the Thorns to five trophies – including the 2022 NWSL championship – while winning league and championship MVP in 2022. In 61 appearances with Portland, she has 34 goals – including a brace to start this season against Kansas City. 

She’s also a member of the USWNT, having scored 16 goals in 44 international appearances.  Set to become a free agent at the end of this season, she told ESPN she “thought of all the options” but ultimately Portland felt like the right decision.

"There is no place like Portland," Smith said in a small roundtable interview that included ESPN. "I don't believe there's an environment like Portland to play in and it's a city that's so special to me and a city that I feel like I've grown up in almost and become who I am."

She also told ESPN that the team’s new ownership “changes everything.” The club is now led by the Bhathal family, who bought the club after Merritt Paulson was forced to sell it following his part in the NWSL’s abuse scandal. 

"Since I've been here there has been a lot of things going on with this club -- a lot of not-great things going on with this club -- and I have just been waiting for some stability and some reassurance that this club is headed in the right direction, and the Bhathal family coming in is doing exactly that, if not more,” Smith said. 

"Their vision for this club is so exciting, and you can just tell how passionate they are about making this what it should be and continuing to push the standard in women's soccer globally.”

Caitlin Clark offered $5 million to compete in Ice Cube’s league

IOWA CITY, IOWA- MARCH 25: Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates as time runs out in the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers during their second round match-up in the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball Championship at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 25, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube's Big3 league, he confirmed on social media Wednesday after the offer leaked.

"We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship," Ice Cube wrote on social media. "But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3."

While there has yet to be a women's player in the league, both Nancy Lieberman and Lisa Leslie have been part of the league as coaches and won championships.

"The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year," Ice Cube continued. "Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."

Ice Cube, whose name is O’Shea Jackson, says that the offer was made with the intention that Clark be able to compete in the WNBA “offseason.” Clark is largely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft in April. But it’s unclear how the scheduling of the two leagues would work. 

The 2024 Big3 season is set to tip off on June 15, with 10 games spanning through mid-August. The WNBA regular season, meanwhile, begins on May 14 and ends on Sept. 19.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, Jackson said that the league has yet to hear back from Clark. 

“We just need an answer, as soon as they are ready to give it to us,” he said. “It’s always 50-50 till we get a no. At the end of the day, it’s a generous offer.”

The offer – as well as the confusion on Jackson’s part about the timing of the WNBA season – caused some current WNBA players to react. 

"It's funny cause I be seeing his son at W games.. they don't talk?" wrote former No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard

"So no other women's basketball player has came to mind in the last 7 years?" wrote Lexie Brown, adding that she'd support if Ice Cube wanted to build a women's iteration of the league. She later discussed it on the Gils Arena Show, noting that his reasoning of wanting to “uplift and support WNBA players and women athletes” is a “cop out.”

Kalani Brown, meanwhile, told Clark to "take that money" and start a women's Big3.

WNBA salaries has been a talking point in recent months as more collegiate stars declare for the league. WNBA stars have often made more money playing abroad than they have in the WNBA. Clark is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, with a rookie salary of $76,535 for lottery draft picks (Nos. 1-4) that rises to $97,582 by her fourth season. But she also has an NIL valuation of almost $3.5 million.

Diana Taurasi famously skipped the 2015 WNBA season at the request of her Russian club, who paid her more to sit out than she would have made in the W. Her contract with the club was reportedly near $1.5 million per year.

Jackson also seemed to suggest that his league could be an alternative to going abroad

“America’s women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet,” he wrote. Although it’s unclear whether or not the rapper intends to make offers to additional WNBA players. 

While the league does hold prioritization rules in its CBA, those typically apply only to players playing in overseas leagues. It’s unclear whether or not that would prevent Clark’s participation in the Big3 league. WNBA players that don’t want to go overseas currently have the option of playing in Athletes Unlimited, which competes in the WNBA offseason.

USC’s Aaliyah Gayles Opens Up About Her Journey Back to Basketball

USC Basketball - Aaliyah Gayles

As part of our 1-v-1 video series, USC’s India Otto sat down to interview her teammate Aaliyah Gayles. Here are five things to know from our conversation with the redshirt freshman guard from Las Vegas.

#1 Aaliyah suffered from a near-death act of violence in 2022.

The incident taught her a lot about herself and the support around her. “[USC] Coach Lindsay [Gottlieb] was one of the first people to fly out there and come see me. That means a lot to me off the court.” 

#2 Her favorite USC memory is when she surprised her teammates after getting out of the hospital.

She left her walker at the door to show she was on the road to returning to the court. “That was my favorite memory because it was family. It was my first time being able to walk to you guys and see you practice.”

#3 There's a reason she wears #3.

#3 was her grandpa’s favorite number and a golden number in her life. Plus, AG3 has a nice ring to it. 

#4 She has a list of basketball GOAT’s:

Candace Parker, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and Cason Wallace.

#5 There have been many celebrity appearances at USC’s games over the years, especially this season.

Aaliyah’s favorites include Will Ferrell, Kehlani, and Saweetie. And she hopes Lil Durk will come to watch a game soon.

Watch the full conversation on the Just Women’s Sports YouTube channel.

Gotham, USWNT forward Midge Purce out with ACL tear

(Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)

Midge Purce announced on Wednesday that she has torn her ACL. 

The Gotham FC and USWNT forward went down with the injury on Sunday during Gotham’s 1-0 win after tweaking it earlier in the game. Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amorós did not have any immediate updates following the match, with further evaluation revealing the tear. 

“It’s a reality I’m still struggling with and has left me with not too much to say,” Purce wrote in a statement on social media. “I’m heartbroken to no longer be available for my season with Gotham FC or for Olympic selection with the USWNT – know I’m rooting for you both all year long. 

“Though you may not see it, I’ll be doing everything I can to get back on the field.”

Purce is just the latest women's soccer star to tear her ACL, and joins USWNT teammate Mia Fishel in having torn her ACL in the last couple of months. Other notable players include Catarina Macario and Christen Press, with Macario only just returning to the USWNT lineup after tearing hers in 2022. 

International stars such as Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead, Vivianne Miedema and Leah Williamson have also suffered ACL tears. 

Purce’s injury caused Amorós to call out the international schedule, which has been a growing point of concern as more players fall victim to injuries and the playing schedule becomes more packed. Kansas City’s Debinha suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s opening game, while both Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle have yet to play for Gotham due to injuries picked up during the W Gold Cup. 

“We lost Midge during the game which for me is a bittersweet flavor,” Amorós told reporters after Sunday’s game. “By the way, it’s another player that came from the Gold Cup. Last week, it was Debinha. We are paying the consequences of a tournament that shouldn’t have happened.”

“We’re talking about protecting the players, [who shouldn’t] go to play an international competition after one week of preseason,” Amorós continued. “We’ve seen the consequences now. We’ve got Rose, Lynn, last week it was Debinha in Kansas [City] and now we have Midge. From my experience, the clubs are going to keep paying for that competition."

In her statement, Purce said that “so many friends, teammates and even players I’ve only ever competed against” reached out to offer support. 

“I am so blessed,” she wrote. “Your messages have meant so much to me throughout this process, you have consoled what, for a moment, felt inconsolable. Thank you for reminding me that our football world is not only full with incredibly talent but also, incredible kindness.”

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