Aces finish road trip with a win against the Mystics

Aces Mystics

The Mystics would start strong, taking a 13-point lead early in the first quarter and leading by as much as 15 points in the quarter, 28-13. By the end of the first quarter, the Aces had cut the deficit to 11 points, 31-20. Washington ended the quarter 12-20 (60%) from the field and 6-7 (85.7%) from three-point range, led by Ariel Atkins 16 points.

In the second quarter, the Aces improved their defense, limiting Ariel Atkins to 5 points while holding the Mystics to 4-16 (25%) shooting from the field and 1-4 (25%) from three. The Aces, who struggled in the first quarter shooting threes and hitting down just one, made four in the second quarter, outscoring the Mystics 20-12. They would tie the game before going into halftime down 3, 43-40. A’ja Wilson, who struggled last time they played in Washington, scored 10 points at halftime, while Kelsey Plum led the way with 12.

The Aces started the second quarter by scoring the first four points, taking their first lead of the game since 2-0 on a Kelsey Plum basket, 44-43. Chelsea Gray took a charge with 7:05 left in the third quarter, hit her head on the floor, and had to be subbed out of the game.

Chelsea Gray would return to the game in the third quarter, but Ariel Atkins and A’ja Wilson would take over. Wilson led her team with 14 points on 5-7 shooting in the quarter, while Atkins had 11 on 3-7. AThe rebounding battle, which Vegas won 14-6, allowed them to outscore Washington 25-19, giving them a 65-62 advantage after three quarters

The Mystics would fall down by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter before rallying late to get within 7 points, 84-77, with one minute left. Kelsey Plum sank an and-one to put the Aces back up 10, 87-77, with 47 seconds remaining. The Aces won 89-77, with A’ja Wilson scoring 28 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.

Box Score

Ariel Atkins led the Mystics with 36 points on 13-25 shooting from the field, including a 6-9 from three. Atkins was the only Mystics player to reach double figures; Julie Vanloo and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough followed with 9 points each.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces with another dominant performance finishing with 28 points and 17 rebounds on 12-19 (63%) shooting from the field. Wilson made more history by becoming the first player in WNBA history to have three straight games with 20+ points and 15+ rebounds. Wilson also passed Griner with her 11th straight game with 25+ points and 10+rebounds.

Kelsey Plum ended with 22 points and three assists, shooting 8-14 (57.1%) from the field and 3-6 (50% from three). Tiffany Hayes was a key contributor off the bench for the Aces, finishing with 17 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. Hayes went 6-9 (66.7%) from the field and 2-3 (66.7%) from three in the victory against the Mystics.

The Aces will play one more game at home before the All-Star break, against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday, July 16th.  The game will be aired on Prime Video, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.