The Las Vegas Aces welcomed back Chelsea Gray on Wednesday, marking her return after missing the first 12 games of the season due to a foot injury. Her presence helped the Aces secure a hard-fought 94-83 victory over the Seattle Storm. Head coach Becky Hammon made the strategic decision to bring Gray off the bench, leading to a standing ovation as she entered the game for the first time in 2024.
Gray’s comeback signifies a potential turning point for the Aces, offering a solution to some of their recent struggles. In her debut, she notched her 1,500th career assist by finding Alysha Clark on the perimeter mere seconds after stepping onto the court. Despite being on a minutes restriction, Gray contributed seven assists, four rebounds, and two blocks, showing glimpses of her impact on the team. Although her scoring wasn’t prominent in her debut, Gray’s presence provided a positive boost for a struggling Aces team that had faced five losses in their previous seven games.
Jackie Young led all scorers with 32 points, while A’ja Wilson added 27 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists in the pivotal win. After a challenging start to the season where the Aces had already matched their total losses from the previous championship-winning season, Wilson expressed her emotions post-game regarding team accountability.
The victory over the Storm showcased that even without full strength yet, this roster has what it takes to compete at a championship level. Up next is an even tougher test against Connecticut Sun who currently hold an impressive record of 13-1. The challenge ahead will require every bit of grit and determination from each player on this roster. However if they continue to perform like this and keep improving as they aim towards full strength then they could be well on their way to making another trip to WNBA Finals.
