The Las Vegas Aces, the WNBA’s reigning back-to-back champions, kicked off their 2025 home schedule with a heart-stopping 85-83 victory over the Washington Mystics, a game that encapsulated the tenacity and star power that have defined this dynasty. In front of a sold-out Michelob Ultra Arena crowd, the Aces overcame a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit, punctuated by a game-winning three-pointer from Kelsey Plum with 2.1 seconds remaining. The win not only extended Las Vegas’ league-record home winning streak to 22 games but also underscored the Mystics’ ongoing struggle to find their footing in a season of transition.
For three quarters, the Mystics—a team rebuilding after the retirement of Elena Delle Donne and the departure of Natasha Cloud—looked poised to pull off a stunning upset. Rookie sensation Aaliyah Edwards, the No. 6 overall pick in April’s draft, dominated the paint with a career-high 24 points and 9 rebounds, exploiting the absence of Aces’ center A’ja Wilson, who was sidelined briefly in the third quarter after a collision. Washington’s veteran guard Brittney Sykes added 18 points, her relentless drives and mid-range jumpers keeping the Mystics ahead for most of the night.
But championships are won in moments of adversity, and the Aces’ response in the final minutes was a masterclass in composure. Trailing 79-67 with 6:34 left, Las Vegas unleashed a 14-2 run fueled by defensive intensity and the leadership of Chelsea Gray, who orchestrated the offense with the precision of a conductor. Gray, playing her first full game since returning from a foot injury that sidelined her for most of 2024, dished out 12 assists, including a no-look pass to Jackie Young for a corner three that cut the deficit to one with 1:12 remaining.
The game’s defining sequence, however, belonged to Plum. After Mystics forward Shakira Austin split a pair of free throws to put Washington up 83-82 with 8.9 seconds left, Plum inbounded the ball to Gray, who immediately handed it back to her trailing teammate. Plum, curling off a screen from Kiah Stokes, launched a 26-footer over the outstretched arm of Edwards. The shot swished through the net, sending the 12,000-strong crowd into a frenzy and leaving the Mystics stunned.
“That’s what we do,” Plum said postgame, still wearing the celebrary “Las Vegas Born” championship T-shirt tossed to her by a fan. “We’ve been in these moments a thousand times. You either fold or you fight. We’re fighters.”
For Washington, the loss was a bitter pill. The Mystics, now 0-4 to start the season, have shown flashes of promise—particularly from Edwards, whose footwork and physicality suggest she’s a cornerstone for the future. But their inability to close out games has been a recurring theme. “We’re learning how to win,” said head coach Eric Thibault. “Against a team like Vegas, every possession matters. We’ll grow from this.”
The Aces, meanwhile, face lingering questions about their depth. With Candace Parker retired and Wilson’s health a priority, Las Vegas leaned heavily on its core four of Plum, Young, Gray, and Wilson, who returned to score 10 critical points in the fourth quarter. Rookie Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 overall pick, logged just 8 minutes, highlighting the team’s reliance on veterans in clutch situations.
As the final buzzer sounded, the contrast between the two teams was stark: one a battle-tested dynasty learning to thrive without key pieces, the other a young squad searching for an identity. For the Aces, the victory was a reminder of their championship DNA. For the Mystics, it was a lesson in the fine margins that separate hope from heartbreak.
In a league where parity is growing, Las Vegas’ ability to rise to the occasion—even when not at their best—signals that the road to the 2025 title still runs through the desert. And for the Mystics, the journey ahead is long, but nights like these, though painful, are the crucible in which resilience is forged.
