The mantra is loud and clear from Las Vegas Aces‘ in-arena hype man Joe Brown earlier than each sport: „We do not simply cheer once we’re profitable; WE-CHEER-TO-WIN.“
Saturday evening, the Aces gave the gang inside Michelob Extremely Area a lot to cheer about. The defending champs dominated the primary quarter after which survived a late rally from the Minnesota Lynx to tug out a 100-97 assertion win behind A’ja Wilson’s seventh double-double of the season. The reigning MVP completed with 24 factors and 10 rebounds.
Chelsea Grey added 23 factors, Jackie Younger scored 16 and NaLyssa Smith chipped in with 15.
Whereas Minnesota was spectacular in its comeback bid after falling behind by 15, the Aces weren’t going to be denied in one more chapter of what is develop into the most effective rivalries within the WNBA.
Rookie of the 12 months frontrunner Olivia Miles was extremely spectacular, ending with a game-high 29 factors for the Lynx, whereas Natasha Howard added 22 factors and 9 rebounds. Former Ace Kayla McBride had 19 factors, and Courtney Williams added 17.
OLIVIA. MILES. 🔥🔥🔥
SHE GETS THE @minnesotalynx THE LEAD (97-96) WITH THIS THREE! https://t.co/rxJpBTY8Tj pic.twitter.com/e1eJe8telk
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 14, 2026
The victory moved Las Vegas into first place within the WNBA standings. Each groups are 10-3, however the Aces now personal the head-to-head.
Most significantly, the Aces are actually within the Western Convention driver’s seat for the Commissioner’s Cup championship sport.
„These are two actually good groups,“ Aces coach Becky Hammon mentioned. „I imply, simply going blow-for-blow. We knew they had been going to make a run; they are not going wherever. … They seem to be a well-oiled machine.
„I am not going to sit down there and say we’re the most effective. We wish to be the most effective model of ourselves each time we step out on the courtroom and let all people else do the speaking.“
And with that, the saga continues.
What Rivalry?
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve by no means considered the Lynx and Aces as a Western Convention rivalry.
True, the states are 1000’s of miles aside, and there is a massive distinction between the „Leisure Capital of the World“ and the „Land of 10,000 Lakes.“
Las Vegas will all the time be identified for The Rat Pack, whereas the Twin Cities will all the time be drenched in Prince’s Purple Rain.
WNBA-wise, the Aces have all the time been linked for rivalry banter with the Los Angeles Sparks. Presumably the Phoenix Mercury, since Arizona is a neighbor, and to not point out, after final yr’s Finals. As for the Lynx, effectively, come to think about it, who’re their rivals? Chicago and Indiana are closest in distance, however they’re within the East. And not one of the different Western Convention groups are that shut in proximity.
The actual fact is, the Aces and Lynx have been the most effective groups within the West over the previous few years.
„I believe whenever you discuss skilled sports activities, and also you discuss our league, folks tune in for particular matchups,“ Grey mentioned. „Through the years, you have seen Stewie (Breanna Stewart) and A’ja, you have seen Phee (Napheesa Collier) and A’ja, and so quite a lot of that has to do with that as effectively. And two franchises which have competed at a excessive stage and have been profitable and have had championship expertise.“
Aces-Lynx Set the Commonplace
Since shifting to Las Vegas, the Aces are 15-12 towards the Lynx, however heading into Saturday, the Lynx had received six of the earlier seven conferences. That features Minnesota’s unfathomable 53-point destruction in Las Vegas final August.
After that, the Aces raced previous everybody down the stretch and ended up profitable their third championship in 4 years. That was one yr after the Lynx misplaced to the New York Liberty within the WNBA Finals.
„They’ve championships,“ Reeve mentioned. „We do not have championships over the past (9) years. So, you understand, they have been anyone that we’re all attempting to beat.“
And as Grey alluded to, there’s been the continued debate the previous couple of years as to who the most effective participant within the league has been, be it Wilson, Collier, or Stewart.
The group inside Michelob Extremely Area did not get the possibility to see arguably the league’s two finest total gamers compete, as Collier continues to be recovering from offseason surgical procedure on each ankles.
That made Saturday much more intriguing, contemplating the Lynx have accomplished what they’ve accomplished with out Collier.
„I would not say I am shocked as a result of they’ve a system in place, her system,“ Hammon mentioned, crediting Reeve. „And her system, yr after yr, places a extremely nice product on the ground. Clearly, including Phee every time she comes again makes them even far more harmful.“
Again to Saturday
The Lynx arrived in Las Vegas with the No. 1 scoring protection, holding groups to 78.2 factors per sport, whereas they had been the one staff holding the opposition to lower than 40 % capturing, a quiet 37.9% from the ground.
The Aces obtained the memo.
Then shredded it.
Las Vegas hit 61.9% from the ground to start out the sport, taking a 32-21 lead after the primary quarter.
The Lynx answered by outscoring Las Vegas 30-25 within the second quarter. The 2 had been almost even within the third, the Aces outscoring Minnesota 21-20.
The Aces maintain on in an ABSOLUTE THRILLER!
They take down the Lynx 100-97 🔥 @LVAces pic.twitter.com/5XgfrIrbzQ
— CBS Sports activities (@CBSSports) June 14, 2026
Then issues obtained enjoyable.
That is once we noticed why Miles would win Rookie of the 12 months if the award had been being given out proper now, going at Wilson fearlessly each time the Aces star got here to the highest of the important thing. Late within the fourth, she challenged Wilson on the rim, drew a foul, and transformed a three-point play to provide the Lynx their first lead of the sport.
As Hammon mentioned, „blow-for-blow,“ as if it had been a middleweight championship battle like those that had been as soon as held in the identical constructing, with all people throwing haymakers and no one taking place.
It will take late free throws from Jewell Loyd and Wilson to seal the win and shut the guide on the most effective video games of the season.
One other chapter full, in what’s develop into a rivalry all of us want within the WNBA.
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports activities author from Las Vegas and a Senior Workers Author at Ballislife.com. Comply with him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
