Aces edge Lynx as Young scores season-high 25

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) smiles after scoring at Minnesota Lynx forward Jessica Shepard, center, and forward Aerial Powers, right, during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) receives a pass while forward A'ja Wilson (22) guards Minnesota Lynx forward Jessica Shepard (10) and guard Jackie Young (0) blocks Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles (34) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson (22) embraces her former coach, Bill Laimbeer, after a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) drives around Minnesota Lynx guard Rachel Banham (15) while Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton (6) eyes the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces forward Dearica Hamby (5) attempts to thwart a shot by Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles (34) and center Nikolina Milic (31) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) looks to pass while Minnesota Lynx forward Aerial Powers (3) guards during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) attempts to block Minnesota Lynx forward Aerial Powers (3) from catching a pass during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) looks to pass while Minnesota Lynx guard Moriah Jefferson (4), forward Bridget Carleton, center, and center Nikolina Milic (31) guard during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon speaks to her team during a time out in the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) attempts to block a shot by Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles (34) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) attempts a shot during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Minnesota Lynx forward Jessica Shepard (10), Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12), guard Kelsey Plum (10) and forward Dearica Hamby (5) react to a referee’s call during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon shouts from the sidelines during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson (22) shoots against Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles (34) while forward Jessica Shepard (10) watches during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Former Las Vegas Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer laughs as a video he is featured in plays on the big screen during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve shouts at a referee during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) slaps hands with guard Aisha Sheppard (4) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) shoots a free throw while Minnesota Lynx players look on during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) shoots against Minnesota Lynx guard Evina Westbrook (2) and forward Aerial Powers (3) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates a three pointer while Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) runs up the court during the second half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Former Las Vegas Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer embraces forward Dearica Hamby (5) while guard Chelsea Gray (12) looks on after a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
Forget the Aces’ 93-87 victory against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday at Michelob Ultra Arena. Forget their 5-1 record. Forget about winning on Bill Laimbeer Day, a celebration of the coach who brought the organization back to relevance.
Aces coach Becky Hammon isn’t happy.
“Our defense sucked,” she said.
Since beginning her first season as coach of the Aces, Hammon has set high expectations for her team, standards which go beyond wins and losses.
“We’re leaning on each other to get the job done,” Aces forward A’ja Wilson said. “We’re holding each other accountable. The expectations are there, it’s always been there for the Aces but right now we’re really trying to come together in the locker room to make sure we’re doing our job.”
Despite starting the game a perfect 9 for 9 from the field, poor defense and turnovers kept the game close Thursday. However, the play of some of the team’s stars like wing Jackie Young and point guard Chelsea Gray helped the Aces secure the win.
Young, Gray seal the deal
The Aces led by four points entering the final 10 minutes. Young and Gray made sure the Aces left with a win.
Young scored eight points in the fourth quarter and finished with a season-high 25 points. Wilson, who has scored 19 points or more in five of the Aces’ six games, held Lynx wing Kayla McBride scoreless.
“Jackie Young was, again, great on both ends of the ball,” Hammon said.
Gray added four points in the final 10 minutes. She scored 17 Thursday. The veteran point guard also had the final layup that put the game out of reach.
Minnesota exposes lack of size
Facing a four-time gold medalist like Sylvia Fowles is never an easy task. She might be playing her final season in the WNBA, but the two-time champion rolled back the clock to punish the Aces on Thursday night.
Fowles’ presence in the paint bothered the Aces all game. She finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds on 8-for-11 shooting as the Lynx (1-5) scored 40 points in the paint.
“We were just giving them too many opportunities,” Hammon said.
The Lynx won the rebounding battle 36-33. Fowles and forward Jessica Shepard combined for 25 rebounds. The Aces have been outrebounded in four consecutive games.
Fowles also caused problems for the Aces offense. Wilson was held to nine shots, but was efficient with her opportunities. But Fowles — the reigning WNBA defensive player of the year — made it difficult for Wilson to get to her spots.
Williams on injury report
Two games after making her season debut, guard Riquna Williams was ruled out with a left foot sprain.
Hammon said it’s a different left foot injury than the one which prevented Williams from playing in the first three games. She expects the veteran sharpshooter to miss three-to-four weeks.
“I’ll always err on the side of conservative and listen to the players, doctors and science of the injury,” Hammon said.
Williams had re-established herself as one of the Aces most reliable players in the second unit. She averaged nine points in 16 minutes and led the team in bench scoring during both games she played.
The Aces continue their homestand at noon Saturday when they host the Phoenix Mercury at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Contact reporter Andy Yamashita at ayamashita@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ANYamashita on Twitter.