LAS VEGAS (AP) — While the Vegas Golden Knights were having a playoff game less than two miles from Frank Sinatra Drive at T-Mobile Arena, the Las Vegas Aces were holding their home party at Michelob Ultra Arena.
The forfeited crowd of 10,191 cheered when the ace received championship rings from owner Mark Davis, kept electrifying as the introduction to the team’s new game was played on a jumbotron, and cheered endlessly as the Las Vegas Strip dismantled the Los Angeles Sparks 93-65 Saturday night.
“It’s a great environment,” WNBA official Kathy Engelbert said. “Sold out the house opener here for the ring party is great, especially when the Knights are playing on the road. That’s so cool they sold out tonight. So, we love the fan base here and we love Vegas.”
Aja Wilson scored 23 points and six rebounds to lead the Aces, who led 31-13 after the first quarter and 59-28 at halftime. Kelsey Bloom added 19, and Jackie Young added 16.
For Los Angeles, Nica Ogomik was leading with 16 points, while Carly Samuelson scored 13.
The game was just a sideshow, though the night apparently belonged to the fans who were there to watch the unveiling of the championship banner hanging next to retired Aces coach Becky Hammon’s jersey, players receiving their championship rings and entertainment all night long.
“Yeah, I didn’t even know though that they were going to hang it up there, but I will say it looks really nice next to it,” Hammon said of the banner and her T-shirt. But they need some neighbors. I know some other shirts will be there eventually.
“And tournament sellers, hopefully. Hopefully.”
Anita Baker performed the national anthem and Coi Leray performed at half time.
“We wouldn’t be able to wear these rings without you,” Wilson told the ecstatic crowd.
Now with the Sparks, after an off-season deal, Derekah Hamby is the first player from last year’s championship team to receive her ring.
“Obviously it’s a moment that I know I can probably be proud of and embrace,” Hamby told the Associated Press before the game. “I mean, getting a ring is special, but I’m going to do it for the fans.”
Fans responded with an exuberant reaction as she and Davis hugged in the middle of the court.
It’s the kind of energy the defending champions have come to expect throughout the season, considering the franchise has taken things to another level just in time for the season.
Earlier this year, the Aces opened their new 64,000-square-foot facility in nearby Henderson, adjacent to the Las Vegas Raiders’ headquarters, which many players said set a new benchmark for every franchise in the league.
They held their media day earlier this month inside Vu Studios, a multi-storey production facility with growing technology capabilities. The winning streak came Saturday night when several videos from that day were shown on the arena’s jumbotron, including veteran Sidney Coulson appearing to run through a forest with an ax as Michael Jackson plays “Thriller” while closing the scene with a reprise of Jack Nicholson’s infamous scene in ” The Shining”.
“Here’s Sydney!” she exclaimed while imploring fans to “make some noise.”
Which they did out loud to her when Coulson scored an away goal for her first point of the game with 4:24 remaining in the game.
It was a sight that Engelbert appreciated not only for the Aces, but for the entire league.
“I think you see what a great sports city Vegas is, and that the Aces were here even before the Invaders,” said Engelbert. “Whenever a franchise gets its first win in its history, like Chicago at 21 and Vegas last year, I think it helps lift the whole league.”
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