LAS VEGAS – Maria Vadeeva scored the first basket of the Sparks 2019 season and would go on to score a career high 24 points, but the Sparks dropped their season opener at the Las Vegas Aces, 83-70. Vadeeva had six early points and eight in the first half, including one off a no-look dime from Chelsea Gray. The two-time All-Star Gray followed the act with another no-looker to Alana Beard, which was picked up by Bleacher Report, The Undefeated and was hyped all over social media. After leading early, the Sparks went cold and the Aces took a 25-19 lead, before Riquna Williams hit a step-back 3-pointer to make it 25-22 Las Vegas. A Williams heave connected to end the first, but was reversed after review and the Sparks trailed 27-23 at the end of the quarter. Ten Sparks played in the opening period.
The Aces started the second quarter on 7-0 run to take a 34-23 lead and force a timeout from Sparks head coach Derek Fisher. The Sparks finally scored their first basket of the second quarter on a Vadeeva layup to make it 36-25. Los Angeles simply could not connect on some opportunities around the basket as they scored just eight points in the second quarter, shooting 19% from the field.
The Sparks defense kept them in the game despite their offensive struggles, as they held the Aces to 18 in the second quarter. An Alana Beard buzzer-beater off a cut sent the Sparks to the locker room trailing 45-31. The Aces shot 15 free throws to the Sparks four in the first half.
Maria Vadeeva came out strong in the third quarter as her 3-pointer cut the lead to 49-40. A Gray leaner then cut the lead to 57-46, but the Sparks could not make a serious dent in the lead, and a Sydney Colson reverse gave the Aces their biggest lead of the game, 65-47.
The Sparks played good enough defense to win, holding the Aces to 41.9% from the field, but their 36.4% shooting performance prevented a genuine comeback attempt. In the loss, Nneka Ogwumike had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Sparks next game is Friday, May 31 at Staples Center against the Connecticut Sun.
Sparks Notes
• Maria Vadeeva scored a career high 24 points on 11/20 from the field and 2/4 on 3-pointers
• Vadeeva’s previous career high was 16 points on 8/12/18 against the Phoenix Mercury
• Nneka Ogwumike recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds
• Kalani Brown scored 4 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in her WNBA debut
• Marina Mabrey scored 6 points and shot 2/3 on 3-pointers in her WNBA debut
• The Sparks shot 36.4% from the field (28/77), 38.5% on 3-pointers (5/13) and 69.2% from the line (9/13)
Aces Notes
• A’ja Wilson scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds
• Kayla McBride scored 20 points and grabbed 7 rebounds
• The Aces out-rebounded the Sparks 45-40
• The Aces shot 41.9% from the field (31/74), 28.6% on 3-pointers (4/14) and 77.3% on free throws