Back in Rhythm: Aces Beat Dream 87–72
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Las Vegas Aces looked refreshed, reenergized, and ready to climb. In front of 10,361 fans at Michelob ULTRA Arena, the Aces (12–11) put together one of their most complete games of the season in an 87–72 win over the Atlanta Dream (13–10). Four Aces players finished in double figures, led by A’ja Wilson’s double-double, and a standout two way performance from Dana Evans helped spark the second half surge.
2nd Quarter Spark, 2nd Half Control
After a shaky first quarter where they were outrebounded 14–5 and trailed 27–20, the Aces flipped the energy fast. Dana Evans lit the fuse with 9 straight points to open the second quarter, tying her season high for points in a single quarter (11). Her production helped the Aces swing the momentum and head into halftime with a 45–39 lead.
The second half was all about control. Las Vegas pushed the lead to as many as 14 in the third behind strong sequences from Wilson and Megan Gustafson. In the fourth, the Aces opened on an 8–3 run and never let the Dream get back within striking distance.
Standout Performers
A’ja Wilson: 24 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL
Wilson continued her MVP caliber campaign, recording her league leading 15th double-double of the season. She now ranks 6th all-time in WNBA history with 108 double-doubles.Dana Evans: 14 PTS (5-9 FG), 3-4 FT, 2 STL, +3
Evans provided a crucial boost off the bench on both ends of the floor. Her on ball pressure helped disrupt Atlanta’s backcourt rhythm, and her efficient scoring (55.6% FG) helped power the Aces through momentum swings.Jackie Young: 14 PTS, 7 AST, 4 REB
Young kept the offense flowing, attacking the lane, drawing fouls, and facilitating for her teammates. She also went a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line.NaLyssa Smith: 11 PTS, 4 REB
Smith surpassed 1,500 career points in the win, continuing to provide consistency in the starting five.
Team Stats Breakdown
FG%: Aces 44.9% (31-69), Dream 38.5% (26-65)
3PT%: Aces 30% (6-20), Dream 33.3% (9-27)
FT%: Aces 90.5% (19-21), Dream 76.5% (13-17)
Turnovers Forced: 19 Dream turnovers → 24 Aces points
Steals: Aces 13, Dream 5
Blocks: Aces 4, Dream 2
Rebounds: Aces 34, Dream 35 (but Las Vegas won the 2nd-chance battle 12–7)
Defense Turns the Tide
The Aces defense was the unsung hero of the night. They forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 24 points. Their ball pressure limited Atlanta to 38.5% shooting and just 5 points off Vegas 13 turnovers. Dana Evans, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray anchored the perimeter effort with smart reads and active hands.
Trending in the Right Direction?
With their third straight home win, the Aces are back over .500 at 12–11. They showed poise, depth, and defensive grit. The question now is:
Are the Aces getting closer to putting together a full 40-minute performance?
They’ll get a chance to prove it on the road with back to back matchups at Indiana and Minnesota later this week.
Up Next
📍 @ Indiana Fever — Thursday, July 24 | 4:00 PM PT | Vegas 34, Prime Video
📍 @ Minnesota Lynx — Friday, July 25 | 4:30 PM PT | ION, Vegas 34
