Chicago Sky vs Las Vegas Aces WNBA Live

Vibes and for me when we talk about Hoops it's about defense getting a system in place and getting your players to buy in not everyone wants to play defense but if you can get him to you will be rewarded now here's maber Kelsey Plum with the steal gray right side that drops and comes off an assist from Chelsea well you want to run point in this league you need to know where everyone on the court is great awareness by Plum leads to an easy hoop here's Williams from past the ark it's all in by the aces very close to making the defense pay for the lack coverage that time not a great Habit to get into letting her get that wide open you know I think the the size of Grace sometimes surprises opponents yes she's a one but is almost 6 ft and just so strong now here's Williams to end the run and Williams gets it to go don't need much range to hit from that [Applause] distance little over a minute and a half into this first quarter and Chelsea Gray again she's so good at recognizing where the openings are and getting that ball to the rim here's copper outside Williams six on the shot clock outside Williams Cofer from outside the ark one up one down two points with our first shot in this game just a classic modern Wing Kia copper is more than capable from three-point land outside Plum and the aces another three only took him a few seconds to answer the three ball at one end with their own a three-point battle starting to take shape here now here's maber pass to Williams misses the layup terrific job defending the basket that time it's not an easy task stopping her when she's headed to the rim out to gray Young [Applause] back to gray now here's Wilson shoots over Williams and it's Wilson missing not sure what the D was doing there she's not the player to give open looks to but they got away with it that time here's ma the shot comes out Chelsea Plum with the defensive effort the aces with the [Applause] lead first quarter of action and just under three and A2 minutes played pass to Stokes Gray she's guarded by Williams from about 10 ft out and that one hits back iron here's maber nice pass led him to the rack perfect for the layup she draws so much attention Williams can find others for easy buckets good [Applause] [Music] dish gray outside pass to Young now Stokes here's Plum score it her third straight Basket in three attempts and when Plum gets quality shots like this he do not pass up nice work time called here the decided to talk it over hey fans who wants a free t-shirt Make some noise [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] and that big AC [Applause] dancers Chicago trailing here tight now copper [Applause] go her shot is good making her a perfect two for two from the floor what a shot by copper the degree of difficulty very high pass to [Applause] Stokes it's hauled in by Williams on offense here the sky yo yo over here now here's copper mabery she's guarded by Plum on the wing kala [Applause] Copper from Deep it's h in by Chelsea Gray oh sometimes you just want to show off your range I mean we already know how good her range is so I don't know why she's firing from that deep now here's gray she has [Applause] six outside young pass to gray takes the three that's in coming up an assist from Jackie young what Focus from Gray a point guard by trade and maybe in the in the scorebook she can also score without the basketball well Brian Chelsea Gray is the whole package and and really a true point guard well she's consistent with her scoring and she can really move the ball around one of the better Shooters as far as percentage in the WNBA nice work there to contest the Finish inside yeah they got the shot they wanted but her defense laid waste to those plans now here's Gray she's got nine outside Plum lets the three F and that's collected by Marina Ma I thought that was going to drop and look good from here look good here too I'm a shock you substition on the [Applause] cour now here's gray not a lot of [Applause] room pass to Clark kicks it out to Plum fires from Deep drains the three-pointer well over the course of her career Plum's three-point percentage has significantly increased and here's Endor fall copper outside now here's Williams drills it from outside looks like she took that last three a little personal hey do you blame her that was some Payback right there pass to Plum yes great play by Chelsea Gra set it up it's obvious that Plum has found her Rhythm tonight nice to see her making a big impact on that end Williams with it five points in the game and there's the call it's going to be an illegal screen the idea of setting a screen on that play it was the good idea the right idea but the execution was not yeah you really want to set a hard screen but you also want to make sure it's a legal one and here's Coulson pass to Plum puts up a three and it's Courtney Williams with the rebound on the wing Kalia copper back to Williams and here's Austin she's guarded by Plum and that one's good Austin you know she's not going to force anything on offense Austin plays within the flow of the game take smart [Applause] shots here's Coulson two minutes remain by Austin here's Plum over to the left wing all sorts of time George can't hit that's a shoot around jumper absolutely no excuses for missing it copper [Applause] outside so she gets the whistle contact on the way up two shots next looking back at the 2021 WNBA finals Kalia copper winning Series MVP I me you look at the names in that series Hall of Famers Candace Parker terazzi Skyler diin Smith Vander slute and copper stole the show tells you how clutch of a player she is [Applause] the first free throw is good one big rule change for the 2023 season the introduction of the transition take foul I think it's a great move by the league I agree Blake I mean a transition take foul is when a team is in or starting a fast break and an opposing player fouls without making an effort on the ball basically fouling to prevent an open court situation and while they do count as a common foul on the player they result in a one free throw shot that any player on the floor can take plus the ball back it's really a big rule change and I'm a fan now here's Plum 13 points in this game pass to Coulson watch the left wing here's George and the three ball is good this game is off to a flying start yeah we're seeing some high octane offense from both sides this is much watched basketball let's hope they keep it up copper [Applause] outside here's Williams from Deep hits it from three-point range it's easy to see Copper's phenomenal fundamentals what she sees a wide open open shooter she makes sure they get the ball pass to Bell George to the inside and count the basket she and she's going to the line one more [Applause] [Applause] one shot [Applause] and two for one opportunity here if they want it and if I'm them if I'm in their seats if I'm on the on the bench in the game I go for it Alicia Clark with the defensive effort well you love the tough D especially inside and that's exactly what gives you Tim constantly making her presence felt around the ring it's two seconds separating the shot clock and the game clock now here's copper tight defense H her down low pass the Endor fall down to five on the shot clock and she was camped there in the lane and she gets 3 second call now into the lineup for Chicago Isabel Harrison and it's the aces with the ball eight-point game see Plum from outside that one misses would have counted had it gone and they're scoring pretty well as we conclude the first quarter Chic the AC is on top up and we've got more exciting basketball action coming your way right after the break [Music] okay now the second quarter getting ready to start up and guys what's your take on the aces so far it's been a well oiled machine and off Ben for them so far and they've kept the ball moving and their opponents chasing it you know it's kind of like a dog chasing their tail just can't get enough that's how they've piled up the points now gray pass to Clark Wilson here's gray launches it and that's collected by Marina [Applause] Ma and the layups good off the glass mixing it up inside NE he might be under six feet but her toughness showing there [Applause] gray outside Clark outside six to shoot pass to Wilson over Harrison and it's Wilson missing as far as you know a jumper will go that's as high percentage as it gets seriously I don't know how that one didn't fall come on now here's Evans she hasn't yet put up any points in this one here's Williams and another basket for Chicago yeah she's trying to expand her range that's about as far as Williams will shoot more of a around the bucket player but nice to see her knock it down gray with it Evans covering outside young drills the three-pointer hard to stop guys she poses a ton of matchup problems for any opponent pass to Copper Harrison Evans with it for three the rebound by Asia Wilson he know she shouldn't miss those but you know it happens to the best of them good on the bucket quality dished by Wilson good heads up basketball helps her find the open player the sky Trail [Applause] pass to Harrison it's hauled in by the [Applause] Aces and a little under two and A2 minutes gone by here in this second [Applause] quarter now here's copper seven points in the [Applause] game tries it from 16 can't score with that shot it's her second Miss against two made shots outside young Wilson she's guarded by Williams Clark outside just five on the clock out to gray over copper gray that's good an extremely high basketball IQ allows gray to be the type of special playmaker we're seeing today now here's Harrison looking for a first basket still in this one Evans up top gray defending pass to Harrison copper can they get it the second chance effort Wilson with the steel Clark right side over copper again Las Vegas effective trip down the floor ending up with Clark getting a nice look and guys I heard that Asia Wilson got her first championship ring size for her pinky finger now that is bravado saying you're starting on your pinky finger so you can fill up the other rings in order you just got to love that level of raw ambition our place I'm called here the sky decide to talk it over [Applause] [Music] here's Williams Evans gray defending pass to ma it's stolen by Jackie Young bucket is good great work by Young with those fast hand snatching the ball getting the fast break a challenging stretch for Chicago [Applause] here Evans with it she hasn't scored yet that I'm sure will change here's endorf [Applause] fall tries to snap the cold streak and she makes that one a player who can get cre creative offensively let's just say Smith knows what to do inside outside young fires the three the rebound by Evans personally I am shocked that didn't turn into three points she makes you pay on those nearly every time to the paint here's Williams she can't get it to go Alicia Clark with the defensive effort right side young Ray Clark outside [Music] Wilson the shake and again it's Las Vegas 15 maybe 18 ft this is about the extent of Wilson's range a center who doesn't need to Chuck up threes to be effective now here's ma seven points in the game pass to Williams yes and a nice assist from Marina ma ran her Defender straight into that screen to open up the lane to the hoop gray outside and here is Wilson shoots and or ball with the rebound she operates well in traffic but still a tough play to finish [Applause] off outside Evans [Applause] Williams and here's Smith outside Evans Beyond The Arc good on the triple confident shot from Evans loves putting it up believes in herself here's gray pass to Clark Stokes Jackie Young on the wing and there's the call on young ja that's her first foul great play to sacrifice her body take the charge giving up her body for the team and really a heads up play as well reads the play nicely and gets in the perfect [Applause] position outside Ma pass to [Applause] Williams back to ma over to the wing young with the steel and now the aces on the break down it goes her third basket he's now three for four in transition young has fantastic finishing ability a nose to the bucket looks to run time called here the sky decide to talk it over and Jackie young the first pick in the in the 2019 draft average just six points per game as a rookie but she used that number as fuel and motivation and young earning an All-Star Game nod in 2022 Plus winning a title with the aces a great example of investing in yourself [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] will Williams gray defending knocks it Loose pass to Austin Second Chance shot now [Applause] Heber now here's gray Some solid defense from Ruthie Hebert Smith outside here's mabery finds the open look and it's on target now Plum 13 points in this game gray outside to the middle inside Plum misses and so it's Chicago with it minutes remain trailing by 10 minutes now here's maber she's got nine on the wing Courtney Williams gray defending four on the shot clock takes the three May misses young with it she's got [Applause] seven pass to George plum up top Wilson over Heir and Wilson gets it to goel and here's [Applause] ma now here's Smith guarded by Young from downtown Smith no good here's Las Vegas inside Wilson that drops and it comes off an assist from Kelsey Plum a Bruiser in the painted area Wilson also has a soft touch pass to Austin now Ma boots over Plum Wilson pulls it down that's one she knows she should have drained Plum a Rec covering that's good and their lead gets even more enormous they played terrific basketball at both ends no doubt about it I certainly can't think of an area where they've underperform and neither can I she did so well to lead her teammate right to the ideal spot that's the kind of playmaking coaches like to see here's gray score the bucket she is 7even for 11 and continues to look good you love to see a card like Chelsea Gray take contact and still complete the play that's toughness outside mayy a dominating first half of play and so far it hasn't been close Aces ahead up by 16 and we will see you back here after the break for third quarter basketball in just a bit [Music] [Applause] hello and welcome back third quarter just about to get going and what has been a runaway of a game so far it's been an outstanding game from Gray she played a very smart game offensively looking for and finding gaps that even Def and always looking for the best shot possible yeah the way she played that first half well that's exactly what we're talking about when we talk about being efficient on offense pass to Stokes and Elizabeth Williams is going to pick up the foul that's foul number two for her okay let's take a look at your crystal balls uh what's next for the WNBA guys expansion is the easy answer more cities in the the league more players in the league well I'm 100% with you looking at those roster cut lists in the preseason you see so many talented players left off teams we have the talent for more than 12 teams right now coming into the league as a great passer young has that radar on her knowing where everyone is on the court outside Williams the screen the screen pass to Smith it's hauled in by the aces well got it in close but credit the tight defense for forcing the miss defense like that UPS the degree of difficulty on that shot by about what uh I'd say 300% 38% maybe okay I like that here's gr and the aces t on two more a strong competitor who can score from multiple spots on the floor gray has a developed offensive game outside Williams pass to ma she scores her B field goal and she's taken nine shots to get there well she for one hasn't let them down but a few of her teammates need to pick up the pace and pick it up fast and these guys have had some good motion on offense nice assists when everybody's involved offensively it's in a way helping you defensively too well guys Asia Wilson continues to demonstrate why she's a top Defender the 2022 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Asia Wilson takes defense very seriously and she expects her teammates to do the same you just got to love how she sets the tone [Applause] and she knocks down the first one but coming out of high school Asia Wilson was the top recruit in the nation and she delivered at South Carolina winning a national title in 2017 Wilson also the 2018 National Player of the Year as a [Applause] senior and good on the second so she makes both Chicago with the ball here's Williams eight points for her outside ma it's good the assist that time from Courtney Williams nice move by ma she sees an opening and takes off to the defense now here's Plum baby covering back to Gray and easy points on the layup and their shooting percentage continues to climb in the second half well as a group they've been in total sink since the break good team basketball and it's resulted in high quality shots very good adjustment at the half time called here the sky decide to talk it over [Applause] the sh now Williams eight points for her just under two and a half minutes into this third quarter now and once again Off the Mark by Chicago here's gray tries again and it's going to be two free throws Drew contact on the shot second personal the point mixing up inside remember gray is 511 that's great size for a pointless lead it's our first trip to the [Applause] line first free throw is good and the sky making a change [Applause] here and good on both impressive growth from year one to now Gray's numbers blossomed once she was able to really prove herself now here's Evans Courtney Williams for three buries it from three-point range a wide open three they need much better communication defensively man they're in complete control everything they're doing it's been working out [Applause] wow now here's gray d right on her [Applause] Wilson right side on the money from 12 ft away just under three and 1 half minutes played here in the third quarter and the call is going to be yep an illegal screen good call there her feet still moving when screen and she sort of lowered her shoulder into her two you perfected actually but they were to get her there one way or the [Music] other just over 3 and A2 minutes through the third quarter play [Music] now Clark outside shot clock at [Applause] five over copper clar can't hit she kind of short armed that shot after doing a nice job of getting open have alive Evans with the bucket you know a guard that's on the smaller side Dana Evans nothing short of ferocious to the paint here's Plum basket number eight is all good she's attempted 12 shot she's carrying a lot of the load offensively and normally that's good news for them now here's Evans Five Points in the game left side Williams no good on the triple on an open look like that she's just got a gift for making the weak coverage pay that's a surprising Miss uh she's almost always deadly when she's that open even from way downtown now here's Clark the shot misses good d by Kalia copper pass to Evans from the wing and off the front iron and and it goes sticking that mid-range J I love watching Evans use this area of the floor Wilson with it Clark outside outside Plum the shots good Alisha Clark making the play can they make some sort of defensive adjustment because guess what she is killing them from three-point range and even when they have closed out on her she's still knocking them down I mean this is just an unbelievable performance we're seeing right now now here's Williams Willam Williams with it and it's good with time running down on the shock clock a natural score Williams has a bunch of dribble moves she can unleash and here's Coulson she's been patient so far nothing yet on the scoreboard pass to Clark there's the triple and the aces another three yeah consistent outside shot is something that Clark really works at and takes pride in here's Williams and here's Williams That's tipped here's Poulson kcks it out to Plum Wilson and there's the 3 second viol dire Sky substitution on the [Applause] cour now Williams 13 points in this game copper outside pass to Williams there's the three and basket number six to stat she she's now 6 for 10 another one for Williams she can do so many different things with the ball it makes her hard to guard Shakira Austin with the block Marina mabery on the wing she's guarded by Plum good Marina got to do more than that to stop ma she knows how to absorb contact and this has been a one-sided Affair yeah they've done a very nice job of extending their lead here's Bell she's covered by copper foul called that time on the way up and they give few chances at third personal foul fourth it's on Kalia Copper at the line for Las Vegas Kiren Bell [Applause] the first one Falls [Applause] both good at the line now here's Williams she's got 16 [Applause] pass to Austin two the third Harrison with the ball she's covered by Clark tries From the Block that misses off the backboard tough D on the inside sure was no easy access to the bucket when she's in the middle second shot opportunity and she was fouled on the way up throws for her first person that's on Courtney Williams shooting at such a high clip from the line never a great idea to send CLK there and this is our first free throw of the game [Applause] and she makes the first but by no means a volume score Clark a winning player an all defensive team member with multiple [Applause] rings that one is no good well a sports family for Isabelle Harrison her father a pro football player and a lot of her siblings play at a high level too one of 12 kids and 10 of them in college athletics I mean you just don't see that all the time but I love it because her big family has been a great support system through some adversity she's faced over the [Applause] years and it's the aces with the ball the biggest lead of the game was 24 points come here come here pass to Bell here's George guarded by Austin here's young and he sticks that one in from 20 ft [Applause] away Williams with it she's got 16 outside ma let's go with a three and it's rebounded by Kelsey Plum even without that three ball dropping for her the defense should have done way more on that last play yeah I the got better as a coach you can't stand seeing her having that much space to get her shot off now here's Williams and here's Austin and Williams gets it to go nice dish from Austin what a team player 4 seconds separating the shot and game clocks pass to George Young [Music] now Plum shot clock at six the three here's George can't get it to fall she's a very strong finisher guys I'm surprised that she wasn't able to power that through the defense Chic and as we conclude the third quarter pretty much a blowout it's been a one-sided affair the aces on top running away with this one and right after this we'll bring you the start of the final and it's time to bring up the State Farm assist of the game this definitely deserves the prize she read the defense like a point guard and put that pass right on the money that's just some real versatility coming from her not something that the majority of them possess [Applause] welcome back fourth quarter of action starting up in what has been a onside show pass the Endor fall Smith guarded by Young here's [Music] Williams the rebound by gray and here are the aces now Austin with the [Applause] steel outside Williams ma with it Williams gray defending pass to Austin ma yes and it's Shakira Austin picking up the assist a player who knows their role if a teammate sets up M she's got the green light to fire now here's tried to answer back but that three is Off the Mark and here's ma we've played just over a minute here in the fourth quarter and so she earns a trip to the line official saw the contact and she'll shoot two first teou normally ma operates Beyond The Arc great to see her get force the issue well for Marina ma it was kind of a tough adjustment to the Pro game she only averaged Four Points as a rookie yeah then that first off season she was traded in 2020 break but that change of scenery did wonders for ma she's really uh increased her scoring and had a great step forward in her game since then and the first one at the line is good talking about Marina Ma's career so far she went from a second round pick to a key player she persevered Blake she really did and still working on getting better every single season and that to me is why we've seen such steady improvement from her year after year so she gets them both and maybery isn't just a scorer you can tell that she's also solid at rebounding and passing in her position pass to Young [Music] Wilson now Gray to the middle here's Stokes rejected by Elizabeth Williams the combination of effort height nastiness it's a recipe for elite shot blocking Williams she has all three of those pass to Endor fall just five to shoot here's Williams nice D from Chelsea great well good defense in the paint worth its weight in gold it absolutely is and we just saw it right there didn't we without her presence that's an easy two points Williams with it outside Williams mabery she's guarded by Plum right side Williams [Applause] Marina Ma on the wing she's guarded by Plum ma misses that's too good a look to pass up there despite the result gray that falls nice speed that time from Jackie young well they've built this lead through plays exactly like that she's easily been the most consistent performer no question about that I mean she's just hitting everything in sight pass to Williams Stokes with the rebound and they've been really controlling this one never want to get too complacent though now gray mayy [Music] covering gray outside Plum Off the Mark the there with the three Smith outside down low stolen by Chelsea Gray doesn't go that time great defense that time from Marina mayri now here's Williams she's guarded by Plum and Courtney Williams here we go doesn't get it to drop for gray outside Young fires the jumper from the corner and Nails it consistently keeping her teammates involved and engaged Ray's willingness to move the ball is contagious outside Williams left side [Applause] Williams Stokes with with the [Applause] rebound right side Plum Elizabeth Williams with the block and they get it back and that one's [Applause] good here's [Applause] ma outside Williams [Applause] back to ma five to shoot trying to get back on track tipped away another good rebound she's pulled down a bunch hasn't mattered but you know what she's a little size challenge in the that's good they've looked terrific in transition today that's uh had a lot to do with their success it has they've done a good job recognizing anytime they've had numbers and then taking advantage we've seen it again and again pass to ma the three is up buries the long range jumper extremely confident at the arc ma knows she has the skill to knock these shots [Applause] down gray outside young right wing fires it and again it's Las Vegas now [Applause] Williams tries again Kelsea gray grabs the Miss now here's Plum mayy covering and a foul on the shot she'll go to the strike for two and when it comes to WNBA accolades Chelsea Plum has a knack for racking them up a champion allar Player of the Year in fact in her first All-Star Game appearance Kelsey Plum won All-Star game MVP few players can say they've done the [Applause] same and the first one drops the first pick in the 2017 draft Kelsey Plum struggled a bit as a rookie yeah she was under 35% from the field Plum had a rough start but Kelsey didn't get discouraged worked on her game worked on getting stronger and Kelsey earning a spot as a first team all WNBA selection and winning a championship as well she hits both from the strike great to see Kelsey Plum out there she missed the entire 2020 wubble season with an Achilles injury pass to Ma Williams yes and a nice assist from Marina ma of all the players you want to leave open out on the perimeter she is the last person on the list outside Plum and fou hard that time get two shots at the line that's on Marina ma it's a major component to her game free throw nearly a 90% shooter from the [Applause] line and the first one Falls for her [Applause] [Applause] and so she hits both now here's Williams pass to May here's the three and rebounded by Jackie [Applause] young and here is Gray she's guarded by Williams plum with it Jackie Young on the wing pass to gray five on the clock shoots over Williams he hit it clock expired you have to be disciplined on defense biting on every pump fake just isn't going to get it done trust me I learned the Hardway copper guarded by Young and here's Williams outside May shoots over Plum knocks down the step back jumper the mid the May Bri we're used to seeing her knock down threes I like Marina keeping on their toes pass to Wilson young and there's the whistle illegal screen you have to make sure you're Peter set but when you set those screens they'll get you for it I thought maybe she was set now I know that's a difficult call to make but I think maybe they got that one wrong and it's the sky ball outside Evans pass to ma here's Eber on the wing Kalia [Applause] copper rebound by the aces that's the way you want to defend nice job there always so important to have that strong interior defense and here's George here's Bell she's covered by copper and here's Coulson over Evans here's Stokes and a good offensive board and she gets the bucket she's got a great read of where that Miss was going and that enabled her to be the first player to it and get the put back copper [Applause] outside outside [Applause] Evans and so she draws the foul on the shot a trip to the line to shoot first personal foul teams first you have to respect how Dana Evans can rise to the challenge seem like more her team asks of her the better Dana [Applause] performs shooting [Applause] two and the first one drops the aces making a [Applause] [Applause] switch and that one goes in to from the line that time and this could get even more out of hand if they continue to put up points what a performance it's been outside [Applause] Young rebounded by copper now 5 Seconds separating the shot clock in the game clock so the whistle blows on the shot two free throws for the contact there second personal foul you cannot let Shakira get the ball down low Austin is too much to handle Shakira [Applause] Austin shooting two [Applause] that free throw no good you have to respect the determination that Shakira Austin brings to the court she plays extremely hard and will not back down from any matchup [Applause] and she can't make the second free throw either missing [Applause] both here's Coulson she's guarded by Williams now Coulson so it's the aces winning this one easily it was a tale of two teams tonight one in Total Control operating flawlessly and the other just searching for answers they never found the energy here was just tremendous from the Geto once they started to really pour it on it was fun to see that Rhythm the flow of the game what a treat so that's going to do it for this one folks oh [Applause]