A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum among finalists for USA Basketball team

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) reacts to a play by Aces guard Moriah Jefferson (4) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Richard Brian Las Vegas Review-Journal @vegasphotograph

More Stories

Bill Laimbeer, center, coach of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces basketball team, poses for photos wit ...

Aces coach Laimbeer surprised by ‘Land of Lost’ co-stars

Las Vegas Aces eye more improvement as season’s second half begins

Washington Mystics forward LaToya Sanders (30) blocks a shot from Las Vegas Aces forward Dearic ...

Las Vegas Aces, Mystics to resume earthquake game in August

Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields, from left, Las Vegas Aces' Kayla McBride, and Las Vegas Aces' ...

Experimental rules draw lukewarm reviews at WNBA All-Star Game

By Sam Gordon / Las Vegas Review-Journal

September 18, 2018 - 11:14 am

Aces stars A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are among 13 finalists for 12 spots on USA Basketball’s World Cup Team.

Wilson and Plum have been practicing with USA Basketball since the first week of September and have excelled in a series of exhibition games in preparation for the World Cup, which starts Sept. 22 in Tenerife, Spain.

The 12-member roster will be finalized ahead of the event, according to USA Basketball. Other finalists include Diana Taurasi, Elena Della Donne, Britney Griner and Breanna Stewart.

Wilson was named WNBA Rookie of the Year last week and averaged 20.7 points and 8.0 rebounds for the Aces in 2018. Plum averaged 9.7 points and led the league in 3-point shooting for most of the season, finishing at 43.9 percent.

The Americans are the two-time defending gold medalists.

More Aces: Follow all of our Aces coverage online at reviewjournal.com/aces and @RJ_Sports on Twitter.

Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.

Bill Laimbeer, center, coach of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces basketball team, poses for photos wit ...

Aces coach Laimbeer surprised by ‘Land of Lost’ co-stars

By Doug Feinberg The Associated Press

July 31, 2019 - 4:05 am

Before he played for the Detroit Pistons and then went on to be a successful WNBA coach, Bill Laimbeer spent a season playing a Sleestak on the hit television show ‘Land of the Lost.’

Las Vegas Aces eye more improvement as season’s second half begins

By Sam Gordon / RJ

July 29, 2019 - 4:43 pm

The Aces returned to practice Monday for the first time since the All-Star break, and are focused on building on the positives of the first half of the season — and improving some of the negatives.

Washington Mystics forward LaToya Sanders (30) blocks a shot from Las Vegas Aces forward Dearic ...

Las Vegas Aces, Mystics to resume earthquake game in August

By Doug Feinberg The Associated Press

July 29, 2019 - 2:14 pm

The Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics on Aug. 5 will complete their game that was suspended at halftime because of an earthquake earlier this month, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields, from left, Las Vegas Aces' Kayla McBride, and Las Vegas Aces' ...

Experimental rules draw lukewarm reviews at WNBA All-Star Game

By Adam Hill / RJ

July 27, 2019 - 6:57 pm

Live-ball substitutions — each team was allowed one live ball substitution per quarter — and a 20-second shot clock were tried out Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson records a video with NBA legend Kobe Bryant before the start of the ...

Las Vegas Aces’ 3 All-Stars revel in Team Wilson’s victory

By Sam Gordon / RJ

July 27, 2019 - 6:30 pm

A’ja Wilson couldn’t play because of a sprained ankle, but Kayla McBride scored 13 points and Liz Cambage had eight points and six rebounds to cap All-Star weekend.

Mandalay Bay President Chuck Bowling (red shirt) watches the second half of the WNBA All-Star G ...

Mandalay Bay Events Center almost didn’t become Aces home

By John Katsilometes / RJ

July 27, 2019 - 5:31 pm

MGM Resorts’ original plan was for Mandalay Bay Events Center to compete with The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood.

Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields, center/left, celebrates with Indiana Fever's Erica Wheeler aft ...

Team Wilson edges Team Delle Donne in WNBA All-Star Game, 129-126

By Sam Gordon / RJ

July 27, 2019 - 6:46 pm

Indiana Fever guard Erica Wheeler of Team Wilson had 25 points and seven assists to earn MVP honors Saturday before an announced crowd of 9,157 at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Las Vegas Aces center Liz Cambage, left, briefly walks on stage at Mandalay Bay Beach on Friday ...

Las Vegas Aces players shine on WNBA’s ‘Orange Carpet’

RJ

July 27, 2019 - 12:31 am

It felt a little like Hollywood on Friday night when some of the WNBA’s best players walked the “Orange Carpet” outside of Della’s Kitchen at The Delano on the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson attempts a half-court shot during practice ahead of the WNBA All-St ...

Las Vegas raises standards for WNBA All-Star experience

By Sam Gordon / RJ

July 26, 2019 - 9:57 pm

The weekend culminates with the All-Star Game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center, where Team Wilson meets Team Della Donne.

Las Vegas Aces' Kayla McBride competes in the 3-point shooting challenge during the WNBA All-St ...

Las Vegas Aces’ Kayla McBride takes 2nd in WNBA’s 3-point contest

By Sam Gordon / RJ

July 26, 2019 - 9:07 pm

The All-Star guard loses in the final round to Connecticut Sun forward Shekinna Stricklen at the WNBA’s All-Star Friday night at Mandalay Bay Events Center.