The end of the NCAA season arrives with a fast-paced period leading up to the WNBA season. First comes the draft, followed by training camp, players being waived, and the preseason games before the race for the title begins. This year, the draft occurred on April 14, and most teams began their respective training camps on April 27. With less than three weeks of practicing together, the teams are already on the road for the preseason games.
Las Vegas Aces Win
The Aces kicked off their campaign with a resounding win of 112-78 against the Dallas Wings. The game took place on May 2 at the Notre Dame Purcell Pavilion. The starting five for the Aces were Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson, Jewell Loyd, Kiah Stokes, and Chelsea Gray, while the Dallas Wings started DiJonai Carrington, Arike Ogunbowale, NaLyssa Smith, Teaira McCowan, and rookie superstar Paige Bueckers.
The Dallas Wings trailed throughout the game, finding themselves down by 18 points at halftime, with a score of 54-36. The second quarter proved to be the most challenging for the Dallas Wings, as they managed to score only 11 points compared to the 32 points scored by the Aces.
The Rookies
Aaliyah Nye, the 2025 WNBA second-round 13th overall pick by the Aces, delivered a spectacular performance with a 55% field goal percentage. She made five of her eight attempts from the three-point line. She finished the game with 27 points and two steals, marking a strong start at the professional basketball level. Dallas Wings rookies Bueckers, Aziaha James, and JJ Quinerly all scored in double digits. Quinerly, the 27th overall pick in the recent draft, scored 16 points and played for West Virginia University. James, the NC State star, added 10 points, while Bueckers also scored 10 points in her debut game. This game also marked the first for the new head coach, Chris Koclanes.
Top Performances
The Aces had five players scoring in double figures on the score sheet. Young was the top performer for the Aces, scoring 28 points, grabbing five rebounds, and providing nine assists with three steals. Wilson also made a strong contribution for the Aces with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. For the Dallas Wings, the rookies led the scoresheet, with Quinerly scoring 16 points, along with two steals and two assists.
WNBA Season
The regular season kicks off on May 16. The Las Vegas Aces will begin their quest for a third championship on Saturday, May 17, facing off against the reigning champion, the New York Liberty. The Dallas Wings will compete against the Minnesota Lynx on the opening night of the regular season.
