Latest news with #KiahStokes
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Short-handed Mystics rally to beat Aces 94-83 for third straight win
From left, Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen (44), Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) and Washington Mystics forward Shakira Austin (0) battle for the ball during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Washington Mystics forward Shakira Austin (0) drives against Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron shoots over Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron shoots over Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) From left, Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen (44), Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) and Washington Mystics forward Shakira Austin (0) battle for the ball during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Washington Mystics forward Shakira Austin (0) drives against Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron shoots over Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) LAS VEGAS (AP) — Rookie Sonia Citron scored 21 points, Sug Sutton added 17 and the short-handed Washington Mystics beat the Las Vegas Aces 94-83 on Thursday night for their third straight victory. Washington played without leading scorer Brittney Sykes, who is averaging 19.6 points per game, for the second straight game with a right lower leg injury. Guard Jade Melbourne left in the first quarter and did not return after getting hit in the face. Advertisement Lucy Olsen came off the bench and scored 14 points in 37 minutes for Washington (8-8). Shakira Austin had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Kiki Iriafen added 12 points and nine boards. A'ja Wilson led Las Vegas (7-8) with 22 points. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young each scored 13, and Jewell Loyd added 11. Washington opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 62-44 lead. The lead increased to 22 points, 79-57, later in the frame on Sutton's 3-pointer. Las Vegas got back in it by scoring the first nine points of the fourth to cut the deficit to 79-70. The Aces twice got within seven points, the last at 87-80 before Austin grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in with 1:31 left. Advertisement Washington, which entered averaging 5.5 makes per game from 3-point range, went 10 of 19 from distance with three makes apiece from Citron, Sutton and Olsen. The Aces were 6 of 23. ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Las Vegas Aces Make Big A'ja Wilson Announcement on Friday
Las Vegas Aces Make Big A'ja Wilson Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Las Vegas Aces have had a slow start to their season thus far. The 2023 WNBA champions currently have a 5-6 record and have lost two out of their last three games. Advertisement The Aces going 1-2 over the past week coincides with the injury of three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player winner A'ja Wilson. The 6-foot-4 center was recently placed in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury in Las Vegas' 97-89 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on June 11. She ended up sitting out the next three games, and there's no denying that the Aces have missed the services of their superstar. The good news for Las Vegas is they're finally getting Wilson back for Friday's matchup against the Seattle Storm. The team took to social media before tip-off to announce the return of the six-time All-Star in the squad's active roster. In a subsequent post, the Aces announced that Wilson will return to the starting lineup alongside Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Jackie Young and Kiah Stokes. Advertisement It's going to be the usual starting five for Las Vegas as they look to get back to winning ways in a home game at Michelob ULTRA Arena. This is an undeniably big boost for the Aces, who will finally see Wilson return to action after missing a considerable stretch. In eight games played so far this season, the two-time WNBA champion center has averaged 20.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.6 blocks in 32.0 minutes per contest. Related: Las Vegas Aces Make A'ja Wilson Announcement After Historic Game Related: Caitlin Clark Facing Major Threat to Her Place in WNBA History This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
How to watch Aces at Liberty: New York raises banner and A'ja Wilson claps back
What is the coolest part of this Saturday afternoon duel between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty? There is just about no wrong answer here. ABC broadcasts can also be streamed on ESPN+. Perhaps you're partial to A'ja Wilson, possessor of three MVP trophies, two DPOYs, two titles and an all-time great feel for the post-up. Maybe you want to see Jewell Loyd, self-fashioned 'Gold Mamba' and unmitigated bucket who arrives from the embers of Seattle's dynastic run. You'd be right to center the rivalry narrative, too. Somewhere in the basketball multiverse, Sydney Colson grins and rubs her hands together. Las Vegas and New York exchanged animosities in a tense 2023 Finals, which the Aces took in four games. The proceedings were chippy once again in the 2024 semis, where the Liberty ultimately scored their revenge. Advertisement Of course, you may see Breanna Stewart as the lead protagonist here. Or Sabrina Ionescu. Or Jonquel Jones. Or Ellie the Elephant. New York will raise its championship banner and distribute the bling on national TV Saturday, igniting a Brooklyn arena that's been packed out to the upper deck. Game of the year in the opening weekend? Look, let's not rule it out. At their best, each side is capable of world-class hooping. Best player to wear both jerseys: Kiah Stokes. The 11-year pro has spent her entire career with these two teams. Aces coach Becky Hammon would be the answer, but she played for the Vegas franchise's prior incarnation as the San Antonio Stars. Sabreena Merchant's power rankings: Las Vegas (No. 3) — 'Chelsea Gray was hyper-efficient in each of Las Vegas' two title runs, as the Aces captured the No. 1 seed during the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons. The perimeter-frontcourt duo of Gray and Wilson was impossible to defend when they were at the peak of their powers, and Gray's limitations in 2024 put an undue burden on Wilson to carry Las Vegas. They also made life more difficult for Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum, who each had their most inefficient scoring seasons of the quartet's four-year tenure. The Aces roster isn't exactly teeming with individual shot creators, Deja Kelly's preseason explosion against Phoenix notwithstanding. They need Gray to set the table, and it helps when defenses are forced to treat her as a passer and a scorer. When Gray's true-shooting percentage exceeds 58, her teams make the finals, whether that was in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. She was at 51.3 last season when the Aces lost in the semifinals.' New York (No. 1) — 'The Liberty have spent training camp emphasizing a shift in offensive identity that leans into pace and more five-out concepts. Five-out offense doesn't necessarily mean that New York is exclusively trying to create 3-point looks — the goal of spacing the floor and having credible shooting threats at every position is also to open up the lane as defenders come out to the perimeter. However, New York has led the league in 3-point attempts each of the last four seasons and finished second the year before (worth noting that 2020 was general manager Jonathan Kolb's first season with the Liberty). We should expect the Liberty to continue pushing the envelope from long range and become the first team in league history to exceed 30 attempts per game.' Streaming, betting and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
