CHICAGO (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 12 of her 24 points in the first quarter as the Las Vegas Aces raced to an early 23-point lead and then prevailed Tuesday night for a 93-83 win over the Chicago Sky to end the to win second WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship.
Plum, who won All-Star MVP in Chicago a few weeks ago, hit six of her nine 3-point attempts.
“We moved the ball really well and I happened to be the beneficiary of a lot of wide open looks,” Plum said. “You know, I came into the game and told myself to be really patient and just let it come, but it came very early.”
Chelsea Gray had 19 points – including nine crucial ones in the third quarter – and earned the MVP of the game.
“My team freaked out today. We made hoops,” Gray said. “I know I’m the MVP at the moment, that should go to her right there. Super proud of this team and everything we have achieved.”
A’ja Wilson had 17 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks as the Aces dominated early and then fended off multiple sky runs in the second half. Jackie Young had 18 points.
Candace Parker led Chicago with 20 points, and Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman each added 18. Reigning WNBA champion Chicago finished on seven points at the end of the third quarter but lost a second straight game for the first time this season.
The Aces outplayed the Sky 33-14 in the first quarter. That was the difference with this one.
“You know, I feel like we were very passive at first and give them credit,” Parker said. “They came out and threw the first punch. We didn’t want to come out and play like that.”
Sky coach James Wade added: “I think Vegas is too good a team to be behind like that.”
Chicago and Las Vegas finished top of the Eastern and Western Conferences with 9-1 records in the Commissioner’s Cup In-Season. The Sky (21-7) and Aces (20-8) are also down 2-1 in the WNBA regular season rankings and have secured playoff spots.
Seattle won the first Commissioner’s Cup last year. The league game doesn’t count towards regular season standings, but coaches and players from both sides said it was a springboard for their distance runs and a ‘yardstick’ against another top team with a lot at stake.
Aces members earned over $30,000 per player while Sky members earned $10,000 per player. Gray won an additional $5,000 as the championship game MVP
New this season, the WNBA is donating $165,000 to charities and community organizations during this year’s series. Teams selected an organization in their region, with each group receiving $2,000 for a win and $500 for a loss in tournament play.
The Commissioner Cup winner’s organization will receive a total of $28,500 and the championship game losers’ bracket will receive $23,500.
The Aces selected the ACLU of Nevada and are one of three WNBA teams working with a local ACLU chapter. Heaven chose My Block, My Hood. My City, a grassroots non-profit Chicago organization that serves underprivileged youth through educational programs and “strengthens communities” primarily in the south and west sides of the city.
The Aces flashed into the sky early, racing 13-0 after just a 1:55 lead and building a 33-14 lead after a quarter and extending the lead to 23 points early in the second.
The Sky put on a run to 12 points late in the second quarter – and 8,922 spectators at the Wintrust Arena were on their feet. Still, Las Vegas leads largely dominant play at halftime, 48-34 on 52.6% shooting.
The Sky increased its coverage in the third quarter, closing the gap to 7 points before Plum hit a 3 in the dying seconds to make it 70-60.
NOT THIS TIME
The Sky and Aces faced off 1-1 on the regular league pitch. Chicago’s win, 104-95, came in Las Vegas on June 21 when they made the biggest comeback in WNBA history, 28 points behind.
Aces coach Becky Hammon didn’t want a repeat.
“(I told them) to just stay solid defensively, handle the pressure and keep playing defensively,” Hammon said. “You know the game we had in Vegas. They are the champions and will not go away easily.”
KIDS POWER
Hammon was joined by one of her young sons, Cayden, on the podium at the post-game press conference. When asked by a reporter if his bedtime was up, Cayden replied, “No, I’m going to bed later.”
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,Seattle won the first Commissioner’s Cup last year. The league game doesn’t count towards regular season standings, but coaches and players from both sides said it was a springboard for their distance runs and a ‘yardstick’ against another top team with a lot at stake.,The Commissioner Cup winner’s organization will receive a total of $28,500 and the championship game losers’ bracket will receive $23,500.
