The Aces Fought Until the Final Buzzer. The Sparks Just Had More. 101-95

Banner night at Michelob Ultra Arena was everything it was supposed to be the third championship banner going up in the rafters, 10,386 fans making The House as loud as I've ever heard it, the 50th consecutive sellout in franchise history. The energy was electric from the moment the doors opened and this city showed up for their champions the way they always do.

The Los Angeles Sparks came in ready to play and on this particular night they had just a little bit more. Final score 101-95 but don't let that fool you. The Aces were in this game from start to finish and gave everything they had.

A'ja Wilson made history again

Even in a loss, A'ja Wilson reminded everybody why she is the greatest player in the world. 24 points. 15 rebounds. 4 assists. 2 steals. 4 blocks. On the same night her franchise was raising a championship banner she was out there making WNBA history.

Her 122nd career double-double moves her to fifth all-time. She became the 13th player in WNBA history to reach 2,000 defensive rebounds and she did it faster than anyone else in history, in just 273 games. She leads the league with her 23rd game this season with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds. She dropped 11 of her 24 points in the third quarter alone trying to will the Aces back into control after LA went on a 10-0 run.

On banner night. Making history. Fighting until the end. That's A'ja Wilson. That's why she is who she is.

Chennedy Carter and NaLyssa Smith were phenomenal

These two did everything they could to bring this one home and they both deserve their flowers tonight.

Carter came off the bench and was on fire 23 points including a perfect 4 for 4 from three, a new career high from distance. She had 10 of those points in just five minutes in the first quarter when the Sparks came out shooting lights out and could have buried the Aces early. Carter refused to let that happen. She kept Las Vegas right there when it could have gotten ugly fast.

NaLyssa Smith was equally impressive season highs of 22 points and 9 rebounds. She was the reason the Aces took a 52-46 lead into halftime, anchoring a 7-1 run to close the second quarter and outworking everybody on the glass all night. Smith is one of the most consistent players on this roster and tonight was her best game of the season.

Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd kept the engine running

Gray added 12 points and 7 assists while quietly moving into the No. 9 spot on the franchise's all-time scoring charts. Jewell Loyd chipped in 10. This team had five players in double figures on the road in a hostile environment. That's a team that competed. That's a team that showed up.

They came back twice in the fourth

Down by as many as 7 in the fourth quarter the Aces rallied all the way back to tie the game twice. Twice they found a way to even it up against a Sparks team that was playing some of the best basketball they've played all season. The Aces never quit and never stopped competing. That fight is what championship teams are made of and it was on full display tonight even in the loss.

The perimeter shooting went cold at the worst time 1 for 8 from three in the fourth and the Sparks executed down the stretch. Those are the margins in a game this close and LA made the most of them.

A word on Jackie Young

Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Jackie Young had a tough night by her standards and after the game Coach Becky Hammon addressed it with the kind of grace and care that reminds you why this program is built the way it is.

"We know she's playing with a heavy heart," Hammon said. "Basketball-wise, probably hasn't gotten off to the start that she wants. However, we're going to give her every support system that we possibly can. Reason why she actually played a little less tonight was because of foul trouble, not anything else. I don't care that she's not scoring she impacts the game in too many other ways to not put her in the game. I'll be checking in on her."

That says everything. Jackie Young is going through something right now beyond basketball and this organization has her. That's what matters most. We're with you, Jackie.

My take

This team hung a third championship banner tonight and then went out and competed for 40 minutes . A'ja Wilson made history. Chennedy Carter hit a career high. NaLyssa Smith had her best game of the season. They came back twice in the fourth quarter. The Aces are 4-2 and they are right where they need to be.

One loss on banner night does not shake this foundation. Not with this roster. Not with this coaching staff. Not in this city.

The Aces hit the road for three games starting Thursday May 28 against the Dallas Wings at 5pm PT on Prime Video. Her Game Network will be watching every minute.