The Las Vegas Aces Beat the Chicago Sky 89-78

Las Vegas Aces #12 Chelsea Gray (PG) is being guarded by the Chicago Sky #3 Candace Parker (F). Photo by Omer Khan.

LAS VEGAS, NV - The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Chicago Sky 89-78 on Thursday night to go atop the WNBA rankings with one game left. Jackie Young scored 16 of her 22 points in the third quarter and Kelsey Plum added 25 points and four 3-pointers.

Chicago (25-10) and Las Vegas (25-10) are tied for first place, with the Aces maintaining the lead due to their home-court advantage in the postseason. While the Sky take on Phoenix, the Aces play their final regular-season game against Seattle on Sunday.

By the halfway point of the second quarter, Plum had 13 points, assisting Las Vegas in establishing a 37-21 advantage. Plum had 18 points at the end of the first half and made all three of her 3-point attempts as the Aces took a 47-33 lead.

Young grabbed charge of the third quarter, scoring 16 points in the first seven minutes to put Las Vegas ahead, 63-48. The Sky pulled within 71-61 as the Aces dribbled out the last seconds of the quarter, but Candace Parker blocked Riquna Williams' jump shot and Kahleah Copper sprinted to the other end for a 3-pointer.

Chicago Sky #22 Courtnet Vanderslooth (G) driving on the baseline against the Las Vegas Aces #22 A’ja Wilson (PF). Photo by Omer Khan/TGSportstv1.

The Aces, however, managed to hang on, maintaining a nine-point advantage the entire fourth quarter.

Williams and A'ja Wilson both scored 12 points for Las Vegas.

Chicago's Copper tied a career-best with 28 points, but its 17 turnovers cost them the game. Emma Meesseman scored 14 points, while Parker had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Courtney Vandersloot was limited to six points and six assists while Allie Quigley was 1 for 7 from the field for four points.

With 3,364 career rebounds, Parker overtook Rebekkah Brunson for third place in WNBA history. Tina Charles is in second place with 3,626 and Sylvia Fowles is first with 3,982.