If one game had to personify to fans exactly everything the WNBA is all about, it was when the Las Vegas Aces squared off against the Dallas Wings for the eighth and final playoff spot of this 2018 season.
Both the Wings and Aces came into the game after seasons where they faced more than their fair share of adversity. The Aces had to forfeit a contest against the Washington Mystics after deciding not to play Washington on the heels of a travel nightmare where the team did not arrive in D.C. until the day of the game itself.
The Wings were in the throes of an extended losing streak, which had them tied with the Aces for the final playoff spot heading into the contest. In addition, they recently lost their head coach in Fred Williams, who was beloved amongst the team.
When all was said and done, the story was a familiar one – Liz Cambage. The same Cambage who scored 53 on the New York Liberty and 35 on the Mystics went for 43 against Vegas which lifted the Wings to a 107-102 victory. She also hauled in 13 rebounds
Assisting in the Wings efforts was Skylar Diggins-Smith who added 23 points of her own. Glory Johnson added 11 off the bench and Azura Stevens was a force on the defense with three blocks.
For Las Vegas, A’ja Wilson scored 34 points and Kelsey Plum added another 20. Kayla McBride not only finished with 16 points, she also dished out 12 assists. The Aces also benefited from 10 points courtesy of Dearica Hamby.
This year marks the second consecutive campaign that the Wings will be involved in the postseason and as wide open as this year has been, it is not out of the question that Dallas could make a run. Given the progress the Aces made this year coming from nowhere to nearly make the playoffs, plus how they will be hosting next year’s All-Star Game, next year could be one to remember in Las Vegas.
Simply put – they will be back.
