# 2021 Las Vegas Aces season

The 2021 Las Vegas Aces season was the franchise's 25th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the 4th year the franchise was based in Las Vegas. The regular season tipped off on May 15, 2021 at the Seattle Storm.
The Aces started the season by splitting a two game set in Seattle in a rematch of last year's finals. After that set, they won four of their remaining five games in May, with their only other loss coming against Connecticut. They lost their opening game in June, but went on a five game winning streak from there. The streak was snapped in Minnesota, in overtime, in a one point loss to the Lynx. The Aces followed the loss with an overtime win against Seattle to finish out June 7–2. They carried their winning streak into July, winning the first two games of July. The streak was snapped, again in overtime, by the Mercury. They rounded out July with a loss and a win to finish 3–2 in the month. The Aces went into the Olympic break with a 15–6 overall record. They returned from the break with a 4–1 record in August, with the loss to the Sun surrounded by two wins. They closed out the season with a 5–1 record in September, including a four game winning streak. They finished the season with a 24–8 overall record, which earned the team the second seed in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs. 24 wins tied their franchise record for regular season wins with 2008.
As the second seed, the Aces earned a double bye into the Semifinals, and awaited the highest remaining seed from the Second Round. After the games of the First and Second Round, the highest remaining seed was the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces had home court advantage in the series, but lost two of their home games, despite a 13–3 home record in the regular season. The Aces couldn't win Game 5 at home, losing by three to end the series and their season.

## Transactions
### WNBA draft

The Aces made the following selections in the 2021 WNBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
| 1 | 12 | Iliana Rupert | France | Tango Bourges Basket (France) |
| 2 | 14 | Destiny Slocum | United States | Arkansas |
| 3 | 36 | Kionna Jeter | United States | Towson |

### Trades and Roster Changes

| Date | Details |
| December 9, 2020 | Exercised Team Option on G Jackie Young |
| January 13, 2021 | Signed G Lindsay Allen and F Emma Cannon to Training Camp Contracts |
| January 13, 2021 | Core C Liz Cambage |
| February 1, 2021 | Re-Signed F Dearica Hamby |
| February 2, 2021 | Signed G Chelsea Gray |
| February 11, 2021 | Signed G Riquna Williams |
| February 15, 2021 | Traded G Lindsay Allen and the 24th Pick in the 2021 Draft to Indiana in exchange for the 14th Pick in the 2021 Draft. |
| March 12, 2021 | Re-Signed C Liz Cambage |
| April 18, 2021 | Signed G Destiny Slocum to a Rookie Scale Contract |
| April 18, 2021 | Signed F Lauren Manis, F Shakayla Thomas and C Kate Cain to Training Camp Contracts |
| April 19, 2021 | Signed G Kionna Jeter to a Rookie Scale Contract |
| April 26, 2021 | Waived G Kionna Jeter |
| April 29, 2021 | Waived C Kate Cain |
| May 11, 2021 | Waived F Lauren Manis and F Shakayla Thomas |
| May 29, 2021 | Waived F Emma Cannon and signed F Joyner Holmes |
| June 28, 2021 | Waived F Joyner Holmes |
| July 2, 2021 | Signed C Kiah Stokes |
| September 2, 2021 | Signed G Bria Holmes to a 7-Day Contract |

## Game log
### Preseason

2021 pre-season game log :
May: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 2
Los Angeles Sparks
L 71–80
Scrimmage
Michelob Ultra Arena No Fans
0–1
2
May 8
@ Los Angeles Sparks
T 85–85
Liz Cambage (21)
Dearica Hamby (9)
Wilson Young Gray Plum (3)
Los Angeles Convention Center No Fans
0–1–1 :
2021 pre-season schedule :

### Regular season

2021 game log Total: 24–8 (Home: 13–3; Road: 11–5) :
May: 5–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
May 15
@ Seattle Storm
L 83–97
A'ja Wilson (24)
Dearica Hamby (9)
Plum Williams Wilson Young (4)
Angel of the Winds Arena 1,031
0–1
2
May 18
@ Seattle Storm
W 96–80
Jackie Young (21)
A'ja Wilson (11)
Chelsea Gray (7)
Angel of the Winds Arena 1,001
1–1
3
May 21
Los Angeles Sparks
W 97–69
Chelsea Gray (18)
Hamby Cambage (10)
Chelsea Gray (6)
Michelob Ultra Arena 1,972
2–1
4
May 23
Connecticut Sun
L 65–72
A'ja Wilson (14)
Cambage Wilson (7)
Chelsea Gray (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena 1,954
2–2
5
May 26
@ Phoenix Mercury
W 85–79
Jackie Young (27)
A'ja Wilson (9)
Chelsea Gray (9)
Phoenix Suns Arena 4,082
3–2
6
May 28
Indiana Fever
W 113–77
Dearica Hamby (25)
Liz Cambage (7)
Chelsea Gray (12)
Michelob Ultra Arena N/A
4–2
7
May 30
Indiana Fever
W 101–78
Dearica Hamby (22)
Liz Cambage (13)
Chelsea Gray (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena 1,981
5–2 :
June
: 7–2 (Home: 4–0; Road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
June 1
@ Connecticut Sun
L 67–74
Liz Cambage (28)
Liz Cambage (7)
A'ja Wilson (6)
Mohegan Sun Arena N/A
5–3
9
June 3
@ New York Liberty
W 94–82
A'ja Wilson (30)
A'ja Wilson (13)
Chelsea Gray (9)
Barclays Center 1,389
6–3
10
June 5
@ Washington Mystics
W 96–93
Liz Cambage (24)
A'ja Wilson (15)
Chelsea Gray (8)
Entertainment and Sports Arena 2,100
7–3
11
June 13
Dallas Wings
W 85–78
A'ja Wilson (28)
A'ja Wilson (14)
Jackie Young (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena No Fans
8–3
12
June 15
New York Liberty
W 100–78
Kelsey Plum (32)
Liz Cambage (11)
Gray Young (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena 2,115
9–3
13
June 17
New York Liberty
W 103–76
Kelsey Plum (18)
Dearica Hamby (12)
Kelsey Plum (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena No Fans
10–3
14
June 25
@ Minnesota Lynx
L 89–90 (OT)
A'ja Wilson (28)
Liz Cambage (20)
Chelsea Gray (7)
Target Center 2,734
10–4
15
June 27
Seattle Storm
W 95–92 (OT)
A'ja Wilson (22)
A'ja Wilson (11)
Chelsea Gray (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 3,766
11–4
16
June 30
@ Los Angeles Sparks
W 99–75
Jackie Young (18)
Liz Cambage (11)
Chelsea Gray (8)
Los Angeles Convention Center 746
12–4 :
July
: 3–2 (Home: 1–2; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
17
July 2
@ Los Angeles Sparks
W 66–58
A'ja Wilson (20)
A'ja Wilson (10)
Chelsea Gray (4)
Los Angeles Convention Center 959
13–4
18
July 4
Atlanta Dream
W 118–95
Kelsey Plum (23)
Cambage Hamby (10)
Kelsey Plum (8)
Michelob Ultra Arena 2,705
14–4
19
July 7
Phoenix Mercury
L 90–99 (OT)
A'ja Wilson (25)
A'ja Wilson (12)
Gray Wilson (6)
Michelob Ultra Arena 3,013
14–5
20
July 9
Minnesota Lynx
L 67–77
Kelsey Plum (18)
Kiah Stokes (12)
Chelsea Gray (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena No Fans
14–6
21
July 11
@ Dallas Wings
W 95–79
Hamby Wilson (22)
A'ja Wilson (13)
A'ja Wilson (8)
College Park Center 2,533
15–6 :
August
: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
August 15
Washington Mystics
W 84–83
A'ja Wilson (20)
A'ja Wilson (14)
Chelsea Gray (11)
Michelob Ultra Arena 3,024
16–6
23
August 17
Washington Mystics
W 93–83
Kelsey Plum (24)
A'ja Wilson (14)
Plum Wilson (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena 3,241
17–6
24
August 24
@ Connecticut Sun
L 62–76
Chelsea Gray (15)
Camgabe Williams (6)
Jackie Young (5)
Mohegan Sun Arena 4,012
17–7
25
August 26
@ Atlanta Dream
W 78–71
A'ja Wilson (21)
A'ja Wilson (12)
Kelsey Plum (8)
Gateway Center Arena 2,182
18–7
26
August 28
@ Indiana Fever
W 87–71
Riquna Williams (15)
Liz Cambage (9)
Gray Plum (6)
Indiana Farmers Coliseum N/A
19–7 :
September
: 5–1 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27
September 2
Chicago Sky
W 90–83
Plum Williams Wilson (21)
Kiah Stokes (13)
Chelsea Gray (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena 5,150
20–7
28
September 5
@ Chicago Sky
L 84–92
Kelsey Plum (23)
A'ja Wilson (12)
Chelsea Gray (5)
Wintrust Arena 5,210
20–8
29
September 8
Minnesota Lynx
W 102–81
Jackie Young (29)
Jackie Young (10)
Chelsea Gray (14)
Michelob Ultra Arena 5,663
21–8
30
September 13
Dallas Wings
W 85–75
Kelsey Plum (30)
A'ja Wilson (12)
Kelsey Plum (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena N/A
22–8
31
September 17
@ Chicago Sky
W 103–70
Riquna Williams (22)
Kiah Stokes (13)
Stokes Wilson (7)
Wintrust Arena 4,911
23–8
32
September 19
@ Phoenix Mercury
W 84–83
Kelsey Plum (23)
Jackie Young (7)
Jackie Young (4)
Phoenix Suns Arena 9,724
24–8 :
2021 season schedule :

### Playoffs

2021 playoff game log Total: 2–3 :
Semifinals
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
September 28
Phoenix
W 96–90
Riquna Williams (26)
A'ja Wilson (9)
Chelsea Gray (12)
Michelob Ultra Arena 7,009
1–0
2
September 30
Phoenix
L 91–117
Kelsey Plum (25)
A'ja Wilson (9)
Gray Wilson (7)
Michelob Ultra Arena 6,432
1–1
3
October 3
@ Phoenix
L 60–87
Liz Cambage (13)
Dearica Hamby (7)
Jackie Young (3)
Desert Financial Arena 7,090
1–2
4
October 6
@ Phoenix
W 93–76
Chelsea Gray (22)
A'ja Wilson (12)
Gray Plum (6)
Footprint Center 11,255
2–2
5
October 8
Phoenix
L 84–87
Gray Plum (22)
Liz Cambage (11)
Chelsea Gray (6)
Michelob Ultra Arena 9,680
2–3 :
2021 playoff schedule :

## Standings

| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
| 1 | x – Connecticut Sun | 26 | 6 | .813 | – | 12–3 | 15–1 | 11–5 | 9–1 |
| 2 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 24 | 8 | .750 | 2 | 11–4 | 13–3 | 11–5 | 6–4 |
| 3 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 22 | 10 | .688 | 4 | 10–5 | 13–3 | 9–7 | 7–3 |
| 4 | x – Seattle Storm | 21 | 11 | .656 | 5 | 9–6 | 11–5 | 10–6 | 8–2 |
| 5 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 13 | .594 | 7 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 12–4 | 5–5 |
| 6 | x – Chicago Sky | 16 | 16 | .500 | 10 | 10–5 | 6–10 | 10–6 | 6–4 |
| 7 | x – Dallas Wings | 14 | 18 | .438 | 12 | 7–8 | 7–9 | 7–9 | 3–7 |
| 8 | x – New York Liberty | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 5–11 | 5–5 |
| 9 | e – Washington Mystics | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 7–8 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
| 10 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 2–13 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 1–9 |
| 11 | e – Atlanta Dream | 8 | 24 | .250 | 18 | 6–9 | 4–12 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
| 12 | e – Indiana Fever | 6 | 26 | .188 | 20 | 4–11 | 4–12 | 2–14 | 2–8 |
* v
* t
* e
Notes
    (#) – League Standing
    x – Clinched playoff berth
    e – Eliminated from playoff contention
    Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

## Playoffs

| First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | First round Single elimination Sept. 23 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Second round Single elimination Sept. 26 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | Semifinals Best-of-five Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | WNBA Finals Best-of-five Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Las Vegas Aces | 96 | 91 | 60 | 93 | 84 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 4 | Seattle Storm | 80 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 90 | 117 | 87 | 76 | 87 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 77 | 91$^{OT}$ | 50 | 74 | – |
| 8 | New York Liberty | 82 | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Chicago Sky | 91 | 86 | 86 | 80 | – |
| | | | | | | 1 | Connecticut Sun | 95 | 79 | 83 | 69 | – | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 101$^{2OT}$ | 68 | 86 | 79 | – | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 89 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Dallas Wings | 64 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

## Statistics

Source:

### Regular Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| A'ja Wilson | 32 | 32 | 31.9 | 44.4 | 100 | 87.6 | 9.3 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 18.3 |
| Kelsey Plum | 26 | 0 | 25.5 | 43.7 | 38.6 | 94.4 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 14.8 |
| Liz Cambage | 25 | 24 | 23.8 | 54.3 | 35.7 | 71.0 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 14.2 |
| Jackie Young | 32 | 32 | 31.8 | 50.5 | 25.0 | 83.3 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| Dearica Hamby | 29 | 0 | 24.5 | 54.5 | 25.0 | 65.5 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 11.6 |
| Chelsea Gray | 32 | 32 | 28.9 | 45.4 | 38.0 | 88.9 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 11.1 |
| Riquna Williams | 32 | 32 | 26.0 | 44.4 | 41.7 | 92.0 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 10.5 |
| Park Ji-su | 25 | 0 | 8.9 | 32.7 | 0.0 | 83.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.0 |
| Kiah Stokes | 15 | 8 | 20.5 | 58.8 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 6.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 |
| Destiny Slocum | 21 | 0 | 6.4 | 31.8 | 33.3 | 60.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| Angel McCoughtry | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

## Awards and honors

| Recipient | Award | Date awarded |
| A'ja Wilson | Western Conference Player of the Month - June | July 1 |
| Chelsea Gray | WNBA All-Star Selection | June 30 |
| Liz Cambage | WNBA All-Star Selection | June 30 |
| Dearica Hamby | WNBA All-Star Selection | June 30 |
| A'ja Wilson | WNBA All-Star Selection | June 30 |
| A'ja Wilson | Western Conference Player of the Week | July 6 |
| Kelsey Plum | Western Conference Player of the Week | September 20 |
| Kelsey Plum | Western Conference Player of the Month - September | September 20 |
| Kelsey Plum | Sixth Woman of the Year | September 30 |
| Dan Padover | Basketball Executive of the Year | September 30 |
| A'ja Wilson | All-WNBA Second Team | October 15 |