Chelsea Gray's big day helps Aces hand Dream first loss

Field Level Media|published: Sun 17th May, 16:37 2026

May 17, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) is boxed out by Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon (00) in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Chelsea Gray scored 21 points, including a go-ahead jumper with 3.6 seconds left on Sunday afternoon, to propel the visiting Las Vegas Aces to an 85-84 win over the Atlanta Dream.

A'ja Wilson and Chennedy Carter each added 20 points for the Aces (4-1), who won their fourth straight game -- all coming away from home. NaLyssa Smith scored 13 points for Las Vegas, which squandered a 17-point fourth-quarter lead before Gray's game-saving jumper.

Allisha Gray led Atlanta (2-1) with 25 points, followed by Te-Hina Paopao's 19 points and Madina Okot's 14-point, 11-rebound double-double. Jordin Canada scored 11 in the Dream's first loss.

Holding a seven-point halftime lead, the Aces pushed the margin to 16 on Wilson and Gray's back-to-back 3-pointers.

Carter's three-point play at the 3:35 mark extended Las Vegas' lead to 73-54, before Okot's layup began a 9-0 Atlanta run. The Aces took a 75-63 lead into the final quarter.

After Smith's three-point play gave Las Vegas an 80-63 lead, Atlanta answered with a 17-1 run, cutting its deficit to a point on Paopao's 3-pointer with 2:18 remaining. Wilson's layup with two minutes left marked the Aces' first made field goal in nearly seven minutes.

Gray made a pair of free throws with one minute left to pull the Dream within a point, before Canada's steal and layup gave Atlanta an 84-83 edge.

Gray's jumper then put the Aces ahead, and then she stole the ball from Alisha Gray on the Dream's final possession to seal the victory.

Las Vegas jumped out to a 14-7 lead on Smith's layup with 6:01 left in the opening quarter. Canada's three-point play finished the first and trimmed the Dream's deficit to 24-23.

Gray opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to give Atlanta its first lead of the game. Las Vegas answered with an 11-0 run -- which included Gray's two 3-pointers -- to give the visitors a 35-26 advantage.

After Jewell Loyd's 3-pointer and Wilson's free throws put the Aces ahead by 12, Gray's basket began a 7-0 Atlanta run to pull the Dream within five.

Carter's layup with 11.2 seconds left gave Las Vegas a 51-44 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media

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