LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chennedy Carter scored 22 points, Jackie Young had 20 points and nine assists, and the Las Vegas Aces beat Los Angeles 105-78 on Sunday in the Sparks' season opener.
A’ja Wilson had 19 points and four rebounds for Las Vegas. Wilson has 2,502 career rebounds in 269 games, tied with Lisa Leslie for third fastest to reach 2,500 in WNBA history. Tina Charles reached milestone in a record 248 games.
Chelsea Gray scored 16 points and NaLyssa Smith 12.
Las Vegas, the defending WNBA champion, lost 99-66 to Phoenix in its season opener Saturday.
Against Los Angeles, the Aces shot 62% (43 of 69) from the field — the second-best mark in franchise history.
Las Vegas scored the final 14 points over the final 3 1/2 minutes in the first quarter to take a 29-14 lead into the second. The Sparks were 0-for-6 shooting and committed three turnovers during that span.
The Sparks scored 19 — nine by Kelsey Plum — of the final 24 points in the first half to trim their deficit to 42-41 at halftime, but the Aces opened the third quarter with a 12-4 spurt and outscored LA 33-18 in the period. Carter's layup with 4:21 left made it 61-51 and Las Vegas led by double figures the rest of the way.
Plum led the Sparks with 27 points.
Nneka Ogwumike, who spent her first 12 seasons with Los Angeles, returned to the Sparks after two seasons with Seattle and had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Up next
Aces: Play Wednesday and again Friday at Connecticut.
Sparks: Host Indiana on Wednesday.
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A’ja Wilson scores season-high 37, Las Vegas beats the Wings 90-86
Las Vegas created separation in the third quarter by going on an 18-2 run to build a 70-48 lead. The Aces scored 12 straight points during the run as Dallas went scoreless for three-plus minutes.
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In the last game between the two teams on June 13, the Aces narrowly escaped with a 88-84 victory behind a combined 49 points from Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young.
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A’ja Wilson exited Tuesday’s game after she injured her right wrist. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m., and we'll have exclusive pre-game coverage starting at 4 p.m. on The Spot - Vegas 34.
