2018 Las Vegas Aces season

2018 Las Vegas Aces season
CoachBill Laimbeer
ArenaMandalay Bay Events Center
Attendance5,208 per game
Results
Record14–20 (.412)
Place6th (Western)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team Leaders
PointsA'ja Wilson – 20.7 ppg
ReboundsA'ja Wilson – 8.0 rpg
AssistsKelsey Plum – 4.0 apg
Media
TelevisionAT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain,[1] ESPN2, NBATV

The 2018 WNBA season was the 22nd season for the Las Vegas Aces franchise of the WNBA. This was the franchise's inaugural season in Las Vegas, after moving from San Antonio during the off season.[2] The season tips off on May 20.[3]

The team started the season slowly in May, posting an 0–4 record. June was a month of improvement, as the Aces went 6–7, including a win over Seattle away. July was the team's best month of the year. The Aces posted a 6–2 record, with their only 2 losses being to Los Angeles. The team's playoff push fell short in August, when the team posted a 2–7 record including the league's first forfeited game. Ultimately the forfeit proved costly, as the team missed out on the playoffs by 1 game and finished 9th in the league overall.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2018 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 1 A'ja Wilson  United States South Carolina
2 13 Jaime Nared  United States Tennessee
3 25 Raigyne Louis  United States LSU
3 32 Jill Barta  United States Gonzaga

Trades/Roster Changes

Date Details
February 1, 2018 Signed F Tamera Young[4]
February 1, 2018 Signed C Carolyn Swords[5]
February 1, 2018 Received Indiana Fever's 2nd round pick in 2019 WNBA draft in exchange for C Kayla Alexander and Las Vegas Aces' 3rd round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft.[6]
February 2, 2018 Received C Kelsey Bone from Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the 26th pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft and Las Vegas Aces' 2nd round pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft.[7]
February 26, 2018 Re-signed G/F Sequoia Holmes, F Cierra Burdick, Signed F Ivey Slaughter[8]
March 13, 2018 Re-signed G Sydney Colson[9]
March 20, 2018 Re-signed F Valeriane Ayayi[10]
April 11, 2018 Signed G Jacki Gemelos[11]
May 19, 2018 Signed G Lindsay Allen[12]
May 23, 2018 Signed G Kelsey Plum and G Kayla McBride[13]

Roster

2018 Las Vegas Aces roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 15 United States Allen, Lindsay 5' 8" (1.73m) 144 lb (65kg) 03-20-1995 Notre Dame 1
C 3 United States Bone, Kelsey 6' 4" (1.93m) 220 lb (100kg) 12-31-1991 Texas A&M 4
F 12 United States Coffey, Nia 6' 1" (1.85m) 180 lb (82kg) 05-21-1995 Northwestern 1
F 5 United States Hamby, Dearica 6' 3" (1.91m) 189 lb (86kg) 11-06-1993 Wake Forest 3
C 20 United States Harrison, Isabelle 6' 3" (1.91m) 183 lb (83kg) 09-27-1993 Tennessee 2
G 4 United States Jefferson, Moriah 5' 6" (1.68m) 123 lb (56kg) 03-08-1994 Connecticut 2
G 21 United States McBride, Kayla 5' 10" (1.78m) 174 lb (79kg) 06-25-1992 Notre Dame 4
G/F 31 United States Nared, Jaime 6' 2" (1.88m) 160 lb (73kg) 09-14-1995 Tennessee R
C 19 South Korea Park Ji-su 6' 5" (1.96m) 206 lb (93kg) 12-06-1998 South Korea R
G 10 United States Plum, Kelsey 5' 8" (1.73m) 145 lb (66kg) 08-24-1994 Washington 1
C 8 United States Swords, Carolyn 6' 6" (1.98m) 215 lb (98kg) 07-18-1989 Boston College 6
C 22 United States Wilson, A'ja 6' 4" (1.93m) 195 lb (88kg) 08-08-1996 South Carolina R
F 1 United States Young, Tamera 6' 2" (1.88m) 175 lb (79kg) 10-30-1986 James Madison 10
Head coach
United States Bill Laimbeer (Notre Dame)
Assistant coaches
United States Vickie Johnson (Louisiana Tech)
Canada Kelly Raimon (Connecticut)
Athletic trainer
Vacant
Strength and conditioning coach
United States Laura Ramus (Wayne State (MI))
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log

Pre-season

2018 pre-season game log
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 6 China W 98–63 Wilson (20) Tied (7) Tied (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
 1–0
2 May 13 @ Dallas L 55–68 Young (11) Wilson (12) Slaughter (3) College Park Center
 1–1
2018 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2018 game log
Total: 14–20 (Home: 8–9; Road: 6–11)
May: 0–4 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 20 @ Connecticut L 65–101 Young (23) Wilson (10) Bone (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,637 		0–1
2 May 22 @ Washington L 70–75 Wilson (16) Wilson (8) Allen (6) Capital One Arena
4,509 		0–2
3 May 27 Seattle L 98–105 Wilson (27) Wilson (8) Allen (6) Mandalay Bay Events Center
7,662 		0–3
4 May 31 @ Seattle L 74–101 Wilson (21) Tied (6) Plum (6) KeyArena
5,235 		0–4
June : 6–7 (Home: 3–4; Road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
5 June 1 Washington W 85–73 Wilson (26) Wilson (12) Tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,575 		1–4
6 June 3 @ Chicago L 90–95 Wilson (22) Park (6) Allen (8) Wintrust Arena
5,052 		1–5
7 June 8 Atlanta L 83–87 Wilson (20) Wilson (9) Allen (7) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,913 		1–6
8 June 10 @ Phoenix L 66–72 Wilson (17) Park (11) Plum (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,471 		1–7
9 June 12 @ Indiana W 101–92 (OT) Wilson (35) Wilson (13) Young (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,437 		2–7
10 June 13 @ New York W 78–63 Hamby (17) Tied (4) Allen (7) Westchester County Center
1,419 		3–7
11 June 15 @ Dallas L 67–77 McBride (22) Young (9) Young (4) College Park Center
4,549 		3–8
12 June 17 Phoenix L 80–92 Wilson (21) Coffey (12) Plum (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,432 		3–9
13 June 19 @ Seattle W 87–77 Wilson (25) Wilson (15) Tied (6) KeyArena
6,395 		4–9
14 June 22 New York W 88–78 McBride (27) Wilson (14) Wilson (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,478 		5–9
15 June 24 Minnesota L 73–88 McBride (18) Wilson (7) Plum (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,814 		5–10
16 June 27 Dallas L 91–97 McBride (38) Wilson (15) Wilson (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,246 		5–11
17 June 29 Los Angeles W 94–78 Wilson (29) Tied (9) Tied (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,124 		6–11
July : 6–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 3–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
18 July 1 @ Los Angeles L 71–87 Young (16) Park (6) Young (8) Staples Center
12,003 		6–12
19 July 5 Chicago W 84–80 McBride (28) Swords (12) McBride (7) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,699 		7–12
20 July 7 Connecticut W 94–90 Wilson (34) Wilson (14) Plum (10) Mandalay Bay Events Center
3,363 		8–12
21 July 10 @ Chicago W 98–74 McBride (18) Tied (8) 3 Tied (4) Wintrust Arena
7,696 		9–12
22 July 13 @ Minnesota W 85–77 McBride (24) Wilson (15) McBride (9) Target Center
9,813 		10–12
23 July 15 Los Angeles L 78–99 McBride (18) Tied (8) Jefferson (3) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,810 		10–13
24 July 19 @ Phoenix W 85–82 McBride (27) Wilson (12) McBride (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,587 		11–13
25 July 22 Indiana W 88–74 Wilson (24) Tied (10) 3 Tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,368 		12–13
August : 2–7 (Home: 2–3; Road: 0–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
26 August 1 Phoenix L 93–104 Wilson (29) 3 Tied (6) Tied (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,129 		12–14
27 August 3 @ Washington L via forfeit[14] – – – Capital One Arena
0 		12–15
28 August 5 @ Connecticut L 88–109 Wilson (24) 5 Tied (3) Tied (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,791 		12–16
29 August 7 @ Atlanta L 100–109 Plum (20) Swords (9) Plum (13) McCamish Pavilion
4,033 		12–17
30 August 9 Minnesota L 73–89 Wilson (18) Swords (7) Young (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,497 		12–18
31 August 11 Indiana W 92–74 Plum (20) Wilson (8) Tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,213 		13–18
32 August 15 New York W 85–72 Wilson (19) Young (8) Young (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
7,159 		14–18
33 August 17 @ Dallas L 102–107 Wilson (34) Wilson (7) McBride (12) College Park Center
6,209 		14–19
34 August 19 Atlanta L 78–93 Wilson (21) Hamby (8) Plum (8) Mandalay Bay Events Center
5,737 		14–20
2018 season schedule

Standings

# Western Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Seattle Storm (1) 26 8 .765 – 13–4 13–4 11–5
2 Phoenix Mercury (5) 20 14 .588 6 9–8 11–6 8–8
3 Los Angeles Sparks (6) 19 15 .559 7 11–6 8–9 9–7
4 Minnesota Lynx (7) 18 16 .529 8 9–8 9–8 9–7
5 Dallas Wings (8) 15 19 .441 11 10–7 5–12 7–9
6 e –Las Vegas Aces 14 20 .412 12 8–9 6–11 4–12

Notes

(#) – Conference Standing, Playoff Seeds shown to the right of team name
x – Qualified for playoffs
e – Eliminated from playoffs

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
A'ja Wilson 33 33 30.6 46.2 0.0 77.4 8.0 2.2 0.8 1.7 20.7
Kayla McBride 31 31 32.3 44.9 39.3 91.7 3.9 3.5 1.1 0.1 18.2
Tamera Young 33 25 26.7 40.8 30.8 70.7 5.1 2.8 1.0 0.2 9.9
Kelsey Plum 31 27 25.5 46.7 43.9 87.5 2.4 4.0 0.8 0.2 9.5
Dearica Hamby 33 0 14.4 52.6 28.9 74.2 3.6 1.2 0.7 0.3 7.4
Moriah Jefferson 16 0 15.7 37.9 20.0 81.0 1.3 2.1 0.6 0.0 5.4
Nia Coffey 28 10 13.8 38.0 40.0 61.8 2.4 0.6 0.3 0.2 5.3
Carolyn Swords 26 12 14.5 55.7 0.0 87.5 4.7 0.9 0.2 0.7 3.9
Lindsay Allen 24 6 14.9 38.4 6.3 70.8 1.3 2.9 0.6 0.0 3.1
Kelsey Bone 32 10 10.8 50.0 0.0 50.0 2.2 1.2 0.1 0.1 2.8
Ji-Su Park 32 11 13.0 38.8 0.0 61.9 3.3 0.9 0.3 0.6 2.8
Jaime Nared 31 0 9.1 30.0 22.6 85.7 1.5 0.5 0.4 0.1 2.5

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
A'ja Wilson WNBA Rookie of the Month - June July 2, 2018 [15]
WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week July 9, 2018 [16]
Kayla McBride WNBA All-Star Selection July 17, 2018 [17]
A'ja Wilson
A'ja Wilson WNBA Rookie of the Month - July August 1, 2018 [18]
WNBA Rookie of the Month - August August 20, 2018 [19]
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award September 9, 2018 [20]

References

  1. ^ "Las Vegas Announces Telecast Agreement With AT&T SportsNet". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. June 1, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  2. ^ "San Antonio Stars moving to Las Vegas, bought by MGM Resorts". usatoday.com. Associated Press. October 17, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "2018 Las Vegas Aces Schedule". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Las Vegas Signs 10-Year Veteran Forward Tamera Young". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "Las Vegas Signs Five-Year Veteran Carolyn Swords". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Las Vegas Acquires 2019 Second Round Pick From Indiana". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "Las Vegas Acquires All-Star Kelsey Bone From Phoenix Mercury". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  8. ^ "Las Vegas Re-Signs Holmes, Burdick, Signs Free Agent Ivey Slaughter". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 26, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  9. ^ "Las Vegas Re-Signs Guard Sydney Colson". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. March 13, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  10. ^ "Las Vegas Re-Signs Forward Valeriane Ayayi". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. March 20, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  11. ^ "Las Vegas Signs Free Agent Guard Jacki Gemelos". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  12. ^ "Las Vegas Signs Lindsay Allen". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. May 19, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  13. ^ "Aces Welcome McBride, Plum To Las Vegas, Waive Schimmel, Louis". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. May 23, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  14. ^ "Las Vegas Aces Forfeit Game vs. Washington Mystics". wnba.com. WNBA. August 7, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  15. ^ "Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson Named Rookie of the Month". wnba.com. WNBA. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  16. ^ "Elena Delle Donne, A'ja Wilson Named Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  17. ^ "2018 WNBA All-Stars Announced; Elena Delle Donne, Candace Parker To Serve As Player-Captains". wnba.com. WNBA. July 17, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  18. ^ "Las Vegas' Wilson Named WNBA Rookie Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  19. ^ "Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson Named August WNBA Rookie Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  20. ^ "Aces' A'ja Wilson Unanimously Selected 2018 WNBA Rookie Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.