Las Vegas Aces Win Big and Make the Playoffs!

What Happened in the Game?

The Las Vegas Aces played against the Washington Mystics on Thursday night in Las Vegas. The Aces won 83 to 76! This was a super important game because the Aces officially made it to the playoffs!

IMPORTANT POINT: The Aces are only the second team this season to clinch a playoff spot! The Minnesota Lynx were the first.

Who Were the Superstars?

Jackie Young – The Star of the Night!

Jackie Young had an amazing game – the best of her whole season!

• 32 points (her season high!)
• 5 three-pointers (shots from far away!)
• Made 10 out of 14 regular shots
• Made 5 out of 8 three-point shots
• Made 7 out of 8 free throws
• This was her first 30+ point game this season!

The Fourth Quarter Magic

In the last quarter, Jackie scored 12 points in a row all by herself! Her final three-pointer with 4 minutes and 17 seconds left gave the Aces a 74-64 lead – that’s a 10-point cushion!

Other Aces Helpers

• A’ja Wilson: 15 points
• Jewell Loyd: 13 points

Coach Becky Hammon Makes History!

Coach Becky Hammon did something really special:

• She’s only the 5th coach in WNBA history to make the playoffs in each of her first 5 seasons!
• The record holder is Sandy Brondello (now coaching Toronto Tempo) with 13 straight playoff appearances to start her career

How the Game Went Down

1⃣ Fast Start!

The Aces began the game on a 14-2 run (that means they scored 14 points while the Mystics only scored 2!)

2⃣ Second Quarter Struggles

The Aces missed their first 8 shots of the second quarter, and the Mystics got close: 25-24

3⃣ Halftime Lead

Despite the rough patch, the Aces still led 38-32 at halftime

4⃣ Fourth Quarter Takeover

Jackie Young’s 12 straight points sealed the deal!

Washington Mystics’ Bright Spots

Even though they lost, some Mystics players played really well:

• Shakira Austin: 29 points and 8 rebounds
• Sonia Citron: 17 points and 8 assists
• Kiki Iriafen: Only 5 points in 27 minutes (she got her 5th foul with 1:45 left in the 3rd quarter and had to sit out)

TEAM RECORDS:

• Las Vegas Aces: 24 wins, 11 losses (24-11) – PLAYOFF BOUND!
• Washington Mystics: 19 wins, 14 losses (19-14) – Lost 2 straight after a 7-game winning streak

What This Means for the Standings

The Aces are now just one game behind the Golden State Valkyries (24-9) for second place in the league!

Summary

The Las Vegas Aces beat the Washington Mystics 83-76 behind Jackie Young’s incredible 32-point performance. Young scored 12 straight points in the fourth quarter to put the game away. With this win, the Aces (24-11) officially clinched a playoff spot – only the second team to do so this season! Coach Becky Hammon made history as the 5th coach ever to reach the playoffs in each of her first 5 seasons. The Mystics (19-14) were led by Shakira Austin’s 29 points but saw their two-game losing streak continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does "clinching a playoff spot" mean?

A: It means the team has won enough games that no matter what happens in their remaining games, they are guaranteed to play in the postseason tournament!

Q: How many three-pointers did Jackie Young make?

A: Jackie made 5 three-pointers out of 8 attempts. That’s 62.5% – really good shooting!

Q: Why did Kiki Iriafen only play 27 minutes?

A: She picked up her 5th foul with 1:45 left in the third quarter. In basketball, 6 fouls means you’re out for the whole game, so she had to sit on the bench for the rest of the game.

Q: Who was the first team to make the playoffs this year?

A: The Minnesota Lynx were the first team to clinch a playoff berth. They have the best record in the league!

Q: What’s next for the Aces?

A: They’ll keep playing regular season games to try to get a better playoff seed (higher ranking = easier first-round matchup). They’re currently chasing the Golden State Valkyries for the #2 spot!

Game played Thursday night in Las Vegas. Associated Press contributed to this report.