Las Vegas did not make this easy on itself. The Aces were without four time MVP A’ja Wilson for a second straight game, missed open looks all night and turned the ball over just enough to give Chicago Sky hope. None of it mattered in the end. NaLyssa Smith scored 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Chelsea Gray hit two jumpers in the final minute of overtime, and the Aces beat the Sky 98-90 on Friday night at T-Mobile Arena.
For Chicago, now 6-14, it was the latest example of a season defined by near misses. The Sky trailed by nine points in the fourth quarter before ripping off a 12-0 run that gave them their first lead of the game at 82-81. They defended well down the stretch and got scoring from across the roster, but the finishing touch never arrived.
A costly turnover and a bigger call
With Chicago up two points and under a minute left in regulation, point guard Courtney Vandersloot turned the ball over. Gray answered on the other end with a pull up jumper to tie the game at 86, sending it to overtime. The Sky had one more look with 20 seconds remaining, but a three pointer from Natasha Cloud rimmed out.
Overtime turned into a nightmare stretch for Chicago. Las Vegas scored 10 straight points to open the extra period, and a driving basket from Cloud that would have cut the deficit to two was overturned on a challenge and ruled an offensive foul. Gray then delivered a pair of step back jumpers in the final minute, pushing the lead to 96-88 and closing the door for good.
Vandersloot’s minutes limit hurt
Vandersloot, playing in just her third game back from injury, reached her minutes restriction before overtime began and was unavailable for the extra period. Her absence removed one of Chicago’s steadiest ball handlers at the exact moment the Sky needed poise the most.
Skylar Diggins led Chicago with 19 points, while Kamilla Cardoso added 16 points and 10 rebounds. Cloud finished with 15 points and five assists, and Vandersloot and Azura Stevens each scored 11 before the injury restriction took her out of the closing minutes.
Aces get a milestone win despite the mess
Las Vegas improved to 15-5 and picked up the 500th win in franchise history, even without its biggest star on the floor. Gray finished with 18 points and six assists, Jewell Loyd scored 19, Jackie Young added 16, and Smith was efficient all night, going 11 of 14 from the field.
The win keeps the Aces atop the Western Conference standings alongside Minnesota, while the Sky remain buried near the bottom of the East at 6-14, six and a half games out of the final playoff spot. Chicago’s next chance to snap the pattern comes Tuesday night at Phoenix, while Las Vegas turns around quickly to host Indiana on Sunday.
For a Sky team still searching for consistency, Friday’s loss carried a familiar sting. They did almost everything needed to win a road game against a shorthanded top team, and once again came away with nothing to show for it.
