Aces bounce back from rough opener, steamroll Sparks

The Las Vegas Aces salvaged a split of their regular-season opening weekend, responding to a first-half comeback by the host Los Angeles Sparks and cruising in the second half of a 105-78 victory Sunday.

The Aces (1-1) came out playing inspired basketball after Saturday's 99-66 loss at home to Phoenix, pouncing on the Sparks with a 29-14 first quarter.

Los Angeles (0-1), playing its opener of the 2026 WNBA season, rebounded from the sluggish start behind Nneka Ogwumike and former Ace Kelsey Plum. The duo scored 28 of the Sparks' 41 first-half points, as Los Angeles stormed back from down as many 16 points in the second quarter to pull within one by intermission.

Las Vegas locked down in the third quarter for good, breaking the game open with a 21-11 run in the latter portion of the period.

Chennedy Carter, a member of the Sparks in 2022, keyed the decisive spurt with seven of her team-high 22 points off the bench coming during the run. She capped the quarter with a jumper just before the buzzer.

The Aces carried over the deluge in the fourth quarter thanks to a stifling defense. Las Vegas held Los Angeles to just 29-of-78 shooting from the floor (37.2%) and forced 19 turnovers.

Carter and Brianna Turner each swiped a pair of steals, while Stephanie Talbot came away with three takeaways to go with eight points.

Jackie Young went for 20 points, A'ja Wilson finished with 19 points, Chelsea Gray had 16 and NaLyssa Smith scored 12. Young's nine assists powered an efficient Las Vegas offense that scored 28 of its 43 made field goals off of assists. Gray had five and Wilson and Talbot each doled out three.

The ball movement helped the Aces to a 62.3% effort from the floor, including a torrid 36-of-49 from inside the arc.

The Sparks' Plum led all scorers with 27 points, shooting 10-of-18 from the floor. Ogwumike, making her return to Los Angeles -- where she played from 2012-23 -- scored 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting.

The rest of the Sparks combined for only 12 made field goals.

--Field Level Media