2019 Las Vegas Aces season

The 2019 WNBA season was the 23rd season for the Las Vegas Aces franchise of the WNBA and the 2nd year the franchise was based in Las Vegas. The season tipped off on May 26, 2019 versus the Los Angeles Sparks.[1]

2019 Las Vegas Aces season
CoachBill Laimbeer
ArenaMandalay Bay Events Center
Attendance4,687 per game
Results
Record21–13 (.618)
Place2nd (Western)
Playoff finish4th Seed, Lost in Conference Finals Washington, 1–3
Team Leaders
PointsA'ja Wilson – 16.5 ppg
ReboundsLiz Cambage – 8.2 rpg
AssistsJackie Young – 4.5 apg
Media
TelevisionKVMY

The Aces started the season 7–5 and were never able to put together a winning streak of more than two games. However, the Aces improved in July and went 7–2 during that month. Their record included two separate three game winning streaks. One of their two losses actually occurred in August, due to an earthquake delayed game. The Aces cooled off in August, going 6–5. The record included a four game winning streak, and a three game losing streak. The Aces locked up a post season bid on August 18. The Aces went 1–1 in September to finish 21–13 on the year. This record secured them the fourth seed in the playoffs.

As the fourth seed, the Aces hosted the Chicago Sky in their second round match. The Aces won a close game 93–92 to advance to the semifinals. There they faced the top-seeded Washington Mystics. The Aces ended up losing to the Mystics, three games to one.

Transactions

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WNBA draft

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Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 1 Jackie Young   United States Notre Dame

Trades/Roster Changes

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Date Details
February 1, 2019 Re-signed F Dearica Hamby[2][3]
February 19, 2019 Signed G Saniya Chong to a Training Camp Contract[4][5]
Signed C Ruth Hamblin to a Training Camp Contract[4][5]
February 21, 2019 Signed G/F Alex Harden to a Training Camp Contract[6]
April 17, 2019 Signed G Dominique Wilson to a Training Camp Contract[7]
May 12, 2019 Waived C Ruth Hamblin and G Dominique Wilson[8]
May 13, 2019 Signed G Sydney Colson[9]
May 16, 2019 Traded G Moriah Jefferson, C Isabelle Harrison, their first and second round picks in the 2020 WNBA draft to the Dallas Wings for C Liz Cambage[10]
August 28, 2019 Signed G Epiphanny Prince[11]

Roster

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2019 Las Vegas Aces roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
C 8   Cambage, Liz 6' 8" (2.03m) 216 lb (98kg) 08-18-1991 Australia 3
G 51   Colson, Sydney 5' 8" (1.73m) 140 lb (64kg) 08-06-1989 Texas A&M 5
F 5   Hamby, Dearica 6' 3" (1.91m) 189 lb (86kg) 11-06-1993 Wake Forest 4
G 21   McBride, Kayla 5' 10" (1.78m) 174 lb (79kg) 06-25-1992 Notre Dame 5
C 19   Park Ji-su 6' 5" (1.96m) 206 lb (93kg) 12-06-1998 South Korea 1
G 10   Plum, Kelsey 5' 8" (1.73m) 145 lb (66kg) 08-24-1994 Washington 2
G   Prince, Epiphanny 5' 9" (1.75m) 179 lb (81kg) 01-11-1988 Rutgers 9
G 14   Rodgers, Sugar 5' 9" (1.75m) 161 lb (73kg) 12-08-1989 Georgetown 6
C 4   Swords, Carolyn 6' 6" (1.98m) 215 lb (98kg) 07-18-1989 Boston College 7
C 22   Wilson, A'ja 6' 4" (1.93m) 195 lb (88kg) 08-08-1996 South Carolina 1
F 1   Young, Tamera 6' 2" (1.88m) 175 lb (79kg) 10-30-1986 James Madison 10
G 0   Young, Jackie 6' 0" (1.83m) 165 lb (75kg) 09-16-1997 Notre Dame R
Head coach
  Bill Laimbeer (Notre Dame)
Assistant coaches
  Vickie Johnson (Louisiana Tech)
  Kelly Schumacher (Connecticut)
Athletic trainer
Vacant
Strength and conditioning coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  •   Injured

Game log

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Pre-season

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2019 pre-season game log
May: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 May 19 Minnesota Lynx L 75–79 McBride (18) Swords (8) Plum (6) Cox Pavilion 0–1
2019 pre-season schedule

Regular season

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2019 game log
Total: 21–13 (Home: 13–4; Road: 8–9)
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
1 May 26 Los Angeles Sparks W 83–70 Wilson (21) Hamby (14) Plum (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
7,249
1–0
2 May 31 @ Phoenix Mercury L 84–86 McBride (15) Wilson (9) Wilson (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
14,090
1–1
June : 6–4 (Home: 4–2; Road: 2–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
3 June 2 Connecticut Sun L 74–80 Wilson (19) Wilson (9) Colson (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
2,747
1–2
4 June 6 @ Atlanta Dream W 92–69 Tied (15) Hamby (8) J. Young (8) State Farm Arena
2,630
2–2
5 June 9 @ New York Liberty L 78–88 McBride (25) Cambage (10) McBride (4) Westchester County Center
1,447
2–3
6 June 14 New York Liberty W 100–65 Plum (19) Wilson (8) J. Young (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,110
3–3
7 June 16 @ Minnesota Lynx W 80–75 McBride (22) Cambage (9) Hamby (4) Target Center
8,392
4–3
8 June 20 Washington Mystics L 72–95 Wilson (28) Tied (6) Tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,416
4–4
9 June 22 Dallas Wings W 86–68 Hamby (27) Cambage (9) J. Young (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,347
5–4
10 June 25 Seattle Storm W 60–56 Cambage (14) Cambage (13) Colson (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,215
6–4
11 June 27 @ Los Angeles Sparks L 74–86 Cambage (18) Hamby (10) J. Young (9) Staples Center
10,295
6–5
12 June 29 Indiana Fever W 102–97 (OT) Wilson (39) Wilson (11) J. Young (10) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,581
7–5
July : 7–2 (Home: 4–1; Road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
13 July 2 Chicago Sky W 90–82 3 tied (16) Cambage (9) J. Young (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
3,516
8–5
14 July 5 Washington Mystics L 70–99 Plum (17) Tied (5) Tied (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
N/A
8–6
15 July 7 @ New York Liberty W 90–58 McBride (24) Cambage (11) Plum (6) Westchester County Center
1,971
9–6
16 July 10 @ Indiana Fever W 74–71 Cambage (19) 3 Tied (6) 3 Tied (3) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
9,247
10–6
17 July 13 @ Washington Mystics W 85–81 Tied (17) Cambage (9) 3 Tied (4) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200
11–6
18 July 19 @ Seattle Storm L 66–69 Cambage (16) Cambage (14) Tied (3) Alaska Airlines Arena
9,000
11–7
19 July 21 Minnesota Lynx W 79–74 Cambage (22) Cambage (13) Plum (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,352
12–7
20 July 23 Seattle Storm W 79–62 Hamby (24) Cambage (12) Cambage (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,193
13–7
21 July 30 Dallas Wings W 86–54 Tied (18) Hamby (11) J. Young (7) Mandalay Bay Events Center
3,756
14–7
August : 6–5 (Home: 4–1; Road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
22 August 1 @ Los Angeles Sparks L 68–76 McBride (19) Hamby (11) T. Young (6) Staples Center
11,692
14–8
23 August 3 @ Dallas Wings W 75–70 McBride (21) Swords (10) J. Young (5) College Park Center
5,882
15–8
24 August 9 Chicago Sky L 84–87 Cambage (28) Hamby (12) McBride (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,200
15–9
25 August 11 Connecticut Sun W 89–81 Cambage (21) Cambage (12) Tied (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,633
16–9
26 August 13 Atlanta Dream W 94–90 Hamby (23) Hamby (16) Cambage (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
3,532
17–9
27 August 18 @ Chicago Sky W 100–85 Wilson (25) Cambage (10) T. Young (4) Wintrust Arena
6,072
18–9
28 August 20 Phoenix Mercury W 84–79 (OT) Tied (19) Cambage (15) J. Young (10) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,032
19–9
29 August 23 @ Connecticut Sun L 85–89 Cambage (18) Hamby (10) J. Young (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,483
19–10
30 August 25 @ Minnesota Lynx L 77–98 J. Young (14) Hamby (7) J. Young (5) Target Center
8,834
19–11
31 August 27 @ Indiana Fever L 71–86 Wilson (18) Wilson (8) Plum (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,958
19–12
32 August 31 Los Angeles Sparks W 92–86 Wilson (24) Tied (12) Tied (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
8,470
20–12
September : 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Record
33 September 5 @ Atlanta Dream L 74–78 Wilson (19) Wilson (8) J. Young (9) State Farm Arena
4,023
20–13
34 September 8 @ Phoenix Mercury W 98–89 Cambage (21) Cambage (9) Tied (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
13,135
21–13
2019 season schedule

Playoffs

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2019 playoff game log
Total: 2–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–2)
Second Round: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 September 15 Chicago Sky W 93–92 Cambage (23) Cambage (17) Plum (6) Thomas & Mack Center
7,981
1–0
Semifinals: 1–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance
Series
1 September 17 @ Washington Mystics L 95–97 Wilson (23) Cambage (12) Plum (9) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
3,968
0–1
2 September 19 @ Washington Mystics L 91–103 Cambage (23) Cambage (10) Plum (10) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200
0–2
3 September 22 Washington Mystics W 92–75 Cambage (28) Wilson (8) Plum (9) Mandalay Bay Events Center
6,175
1–2
4 September 24 Washington Mystics L 90–94 Cambage (25) Cambage (12) Hamby (7) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,465
1–3
2019 playoff schedule

Standings

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# Western Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Los Angeles Sparks (3) 22 12 .647 15–2 7–10 10–6
2 Las Vegas Aces (4) 21 13 .618 1 13–4 8–9 11–5
3 Seattle Storm (6) 18 16 .529 4 11–6 7–10 10–6
4 Minnesota Lynx (7) 18 16 .529 4 11–6 7–10 7–9
5 Phoenix Mercury (8) 15 19 .441 7 9–8 6–11 5–11
6 e – Dallas Wings 10 24 .294 12 8–9 2–15 5–11

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
e – Eliminated from playoffs

Playoffs

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First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 11)
Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 15)
Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 17 – Sept. 24)
WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 29 – Oct. 10)
1Washington Mystics971037594
4Las Vegas Aces934Las Vegas Aces95919290
5Chicago Sky1055Chicago Sky921Washington Mystics9587948689
8Phoenix Mercury762Connecticut Sun8699819078
2Connecticut Sun849478
3Los Angeles Sparks923Los Angeles Sparks756856
6Seattle Storm846Seattle Storm69
7Minnesota Lynx74

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

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Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
A'ja Wilson 26 25 28.4 47.9 0 79.2 6.4 1.8 0.5 1.7 16.5
Liz Cambage 32 30 25.2 50.4 16.7 74.8 8.2 2.1 0.6 1.6 15.9
Kayla McBride 34 34 29.1 42.5 42.8 90.6 4.2 2.6 1.2 0.1 13.3
Dearica Hamby 34 9 24.8 48.8 32.1 71.8 7.6 1.9 1.0 0.4 11.0
Kelsey Plum 34 30 25.5 36.5 35.7 87.2 2.8 3.0 0.8 0.1 8.6
Jackie Young 34 34 22.6 32.2 31.8 80.8 3.3 4.5 0.8 0.4 6.6
Tamera Young 34 4 18.5 38.0 31.3 63.9 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 5.3
Epiphanny Prince 3 0 9.3 50.0 42.9 0 0.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 4.3
Sugar Rodgers 33 0 11.6 36.0 35.7 60.0 1.5 1.2 0.4 0.4 3.4
Sydney Colson 33 0 11.5 44.0 45.0 81.8 0.7 1.8 0.9 0.1 3.3
Carolyn Swords 29 4 8.9 43.8 0 84.6 2.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 2.6
Park Ji-su 25 0 6.5 21.6 0 44.4 1.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.8

Awards and honors

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Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
A'ja Wilson WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week June 24, 2019 [12]
July 1, 2019 [13]
Kayla McBride WNBA All-Star Selection July 15, 2019 [14]
A'ja Wilson
Liz Cambage
Bill Laimbeer WNBA Coach of the Month - July August 1, 2019 [15]
Dearica Hamby Sixth Woman of the Year September 15, 2019 [16]
Jackie Young WNBA All-Rookie Team September 16, 2019 [17]

References

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  1. ^ "2019 Las Vegas Aces Schedule". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  2. ^ "Las Vegas Re-Signs Forward Dearica Hamby". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Gordon, Sam (February 1, 2019). "Las Vegas Aces re-sign free-agent wing Dearica Hamby". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Aces Ink Chong, Hamblin To Training Camp Contracts". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Berry, Tyler (February 19, 2019). "Las Vegas Aces Sign Chong and Hamblin to 2019 Training Camp Contracts". highposthoops.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. ^ "Aces Sign Alex Harden To Training Camp Contract". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 21, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  7. ^ "Aces Sign Former NC State Standout Dominique Wilson To Training Camp Contract". wnba.com. WNBA. April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  8. ^ "Aces Waive Ruth Hamblin & Dominique Wilson". wnba.com. WNBA. May 12, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Aces Sign Guard Sydney Colson". wnba.com. WNBA. May 13, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "Wings trade MVP runner-up Cambage to Aces". espn.com. ESPN. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "Aces Sign Two-Time All-Star Guard Epiphanny Prince". wnba.com. WNBA. August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  12. ^ @WNBA (June 24, 2019). "🗣 Congrats to @De11eDonne and @_ajawilson22 for being named this week's #PlayerofTheWeek 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "Delle Donne, Wilson Earn Players Of The Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  14. ^ "Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star". wnba.com. WNBA. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  15. ^ @WNBA (August 1, 2019). "Congrats to @LVAces Head Coach Bill Laimbeer on being named #WNBA Coach of the Month! 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Las Vegas' Dearica Hamby Named 2019 WNBA Sixth Woman Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "Rookie of the Year Collier Headlines 2019 All-Rookie Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 16, 2019. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
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