On Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, the Las Vegas Aces reminded the league why they’re championship contenders—rising from a season-opening defeat to the New York Liberty by blitzing the Connecticut Sun 87–62.
A’ja Wilson was dominant once again. She poured in 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, chalking up her second consecutive double-double after a spectacular 31-point, 16-rebound debut just three days earlier.
Complementing Wilson’s inside dominance, newcomer Jewell Loyd found her rhythm from deep, connecting on six of her nine three-point attempts en route to 20 points. This breakout performance established her as the long-range spark plug the Aces hoped to add in the offseason.
Jackie Young added 16 points, with two of her threes extending Las Vegas’s lead. Veteran point guard Chelsea Gray chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists—a balanced assault from the Aces’ backcourt.
Las Vegas seized early control, storming to an 11–2 lead in the first quarter and never letting up. By halftime, the Aces held a commanding 52–29 advantage, widening the gap to 59–29 just minutes into the third quarter.
Despite the lopsided score, the Sun found bright spots in their young roster. Tina Charles led Connecticut with 20 points, and rookie Saniya Rivers impressed in her debut with 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and a block. Rivers’s resilience—coming off personal loss—earned praise from coach Rachid Meziane and teammates.
Connecticut’s other rookies also showed grit. Rayah Marshall grabbed six rebounds and swatted a block in limited minutes, offering a silver lining for a team still seeking its first win of the season.
Coach Becky Hammon praised her starters but acknowledged bench depth remains a concern. “We need consistent production from our reserves if we’re going to sustain this level,” she said postgame.
With this win, Las Vegas now sits at 1–1. Analysts say the performance reaffirmed the team’s contender status, though they caution tougher tests lie ahead—with Washington and Seattle looming on the near horizon.
