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.^[1]

2021 Las Vegas Aces season
Coach	Bill Laimbeer
Arena	Michelob Ultra Arena
Attendance	2,943 per game
Results
Record	24–8 (.750)
Place	1st (Western)
Playoff finish	2nd seed, Lost in Semifinals to Phoenix Mercury 2–3
Team Leaders
Points	A'ja Wilson – 18.3 ppg
Rebounds	A'ja Wilson – 9.3 rpg
Assists	Chelsea Gray – 5.9 apg
← 2020 season 2022 season →

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

See also: 2021 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[2]
January 13, 2021	Signed G Lindsay Allen and F Emma Cannon to Training Camp Contracts[3]
	Core C Liz Cambage[4]
February 1, 2021	Re-Signed F Dearica Hamby[5]
February 2, 2021	Signed G Chelsea Gray[6]
February 11, 2021	Signed G Riquna Williams[7]
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.[8]
March 12, 2021	Re-Signed C Liz Cambage[9]
April 18, 2021	Signed G Destiny Slocum to a Rookie Scale Contract[10]
	Signed F Lauren Manis, F Shakayla Thomas and C Kate Cain to Training Camp Contracts[11]
April 19, 2021	Signed G Kionna Jeter to a Rookie Scale Contract[12]
April 26, 2021	Waived G Kionna Jeter[13]
April 29, 2021	Waived C Kate Cain[14]
May 11, 2021	Waived F Lauren Manis and F Shakayla Thomas[15]
May 29, 2021	Waived F Emma Cannon and signed F Joyner Holmes[16]
June 28, 2021	Waived F Joyner Holmes[17]
July 2, 2021	Signed C Kiah Stokes[18]
September 2, 2021	Signed G Bria Holmes to a 7-Day Contract[19]

Roster

2021 Las Vegas Aces roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs C 8 Cambage, Liz 6' 8" (2.03m) 216 lb (98kg) 1991-08-18 Australia 4 G 12 Gray, Chelsea 5' 11" (1.8m) 170 lb (77kg) 1992-10-08 Duke 6 F 5 Hamby, Dearica  6' 3" (1.91m) 189 lb (86kg) 1993-11-06 Wake Forest 6 G 32 Holmes, Bria 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 1994-04-19 West Virginia 4 G/F 35 McCoughtry, Angel  6' 1" (1.85m) 173 lb (78kg) 1986-09-10 Louisville 11 C 19 Ji-su, Park 6' 5" (1.96m) 206 lb (93kg) 1998-12-06 South Korea 2 G 10 Plum, Kelsey 5' 8" (1.73m) 145 lb (66kg) 1994-08-24 Washington 3 G 24 Slocum, Destiny 5' 6" (1.68m) 157 lb (71kg) 1997-09-09 Arkansas R C 41 Stokes, Kiah 6' 3" (1.91m) 191 lb (87kg) 1993-03-30 Connecticut 5 G 2 Williams, Riquna 5' 6" (1.68m) 165 lb (75kg) 1990-05-28 Miami (FL) 8 F 22 Wilson, A'ja 6' 4" (1.93m) 195 lb (88kg) 1996-08-08 South Carolina 3 G 0 Young, Jackie 6' 0" (1.83m) 165 lb (75kg) 1997-09-16 Notre Dame 2	Head coach Bill Laimbeer (Notre Dame) Assistant coaches Tanisha Wright (Penn State) Vanessa Nygaard (Stanford) Sugar Rodgers (Georgetown) Athletic trainer Michelle Anumba (Duke) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Game log

Preseason

2021 pre-season game log
May: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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 Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 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					Second round single elimination Sept. 26					Semifinals Best-of-5 Sept. 28 – Oct. 8					Finals Best-of-5 Oct. 10 – 17
											2	Las Vegas Aces	2
						4	Seattle Storm	80			5	Phoenix Mercury	3
	5	Phoenix Mercury	83			5	Phoenix Mercury	85OT								5	Phoenix Mercury	1
	8	New York Liberty	82													6	Chicago Sky	3
											1	Connecticut Sun	1
						3	Minnesota Lynx	76			6	Chicago Sky	3
	6	Chicago Sky	81			6	Chicago Sky	89
	7	Dallas Wings	64

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

• Bold – Game or series winner
• Italic – Team with home-court advantage

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

Source:^[20]

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	Ref.
A'ja Wilson	Western Conference Player of the Month - June	July 1	[21]
Chelsea Gray	WNBA All-Star Selection	June 30	[22]
Liz Cambage
Dearica Hamby
A'ja Wilson
A'ja Wilson	Western Conference Player of the Week	July 6	[23]
Kelsey Plum		September 20	[24]
Kelsey Plum	Western Conference Player of the Month - September	September 20	[25]
Kelsey Plum	Sixth Woman of the Year	September 30	[26]
Dan Padover	Basketball Executive of the Year		[27]
A'ja Wilson	All-WNBA Second Team	October 15	[28]