By Kayte Ledbetter

A feisty Las Vegas team proved a tough challenge for the Wings tonight as Dallas fell, 104-84, to the defending champion, Aces despite trailing by as many as 41 points at one point. The Las Vegas offense was superior tonight as they shot 37-74 (50%) from the field, including 16-32 (50%) from three.

The Aces came out strong, holding the Wings scoreless for the first five and a half minutes while scoring 16 points during the span. Dallas’ 13 points in the first tied their lowest mark of the season.

Chelsea Gray dipped into double figures for the Aces in the opening quarter, with 11 points on 4-6 shooting. Satou Sabally recorded seven first quarter points, while Kalani Brown recorded four points off the bench.

Dallas and Las Vegas were neck and neck at the start of the second quarter, before the Aces pulled away. Following the initial three minutes that saw Dallas record 10 points and Vegas total 11 points, the Aces embarked on a 19-3 run that saw Dallas score solely on free throws.

If the 11-point difference in the first quarter wasn’t enough, the 17-point differential in the second was the nail in Dallas’ coffin. The Wings’ 26 points in the first half represent their fewest in any half this season and fewest in the first half since 6/28/22 at Minnesota when they recorded 24 points in the first half.

Kelsey Plum (15), Chelsea Gray (13) and Jackie Young (12) had all dipped into double figures at the half, while Satou Sabally (11) was the lone Wings player to record double digits. Plum, Gray and Young each shot 55% or better in the half with Young leading the way on 4-4 shooting, each basket coming from deep. In the opening half alone, the Aces recorded double the Wings rebounds (28-14), an effort A’ja Wilson led with 10, followed by Young and Kiah Stokes who grabbed six each.

The Wings recorded as many points in the third quarter as they had in the first half alone. Sabally led with seven points while Crystal Dangerfield added five alongside Veronica Burton off the bench.

The fourth quarter was indisputably the Wings’ best of the night as they recorded a season high 32 points in the quarter, while additionally outscoring the Aces by 14 points. The Wings shot 12-19 (63.2%) from the floor. Although Natasha Howard had a quiet opening half, she bounced back to drop a team leading nine points in the fourth quarter that included 4-4 shooting from the charity stripe.

Satou Sabally led the way with 21 points on the night followed by Kalani Brown who finished with 16 points, her most since setting a career high with 21 points on June 14. Arike Ogunbowale additionally finished in double figures with 12 points while Natasha Howard totaled 10. After a quiet first half for Crystal Dangerfield, the 5’5 guard posted all 11 of her points in the second half alongside two rebounds and three assists.

Dallas looks to secure their first win of their four-game homestand against Connecticut on Saturday, August 12 at 7pm CT.