WNBA: Aces hope return matchup with Sparks proves just as beneficial

The Las Vegas Aces return home in search of a fifth straight win following an unbeaten four-game road trip, taking on a Los Angeles Sparks team that has had a more turbulent start to the season than expected.

The Aces' trip began with a 27-point win over the Sparks on May 10 and was punctuated by Chelsea Gray's game-winner against the Atlanta Dream with 3.6 seconds left in an 85-84 victory on Sunday.

Following a blowout loss to the Phoenix Mercury on opening night, the Aces (4-1) have won each of their games by an average of 16 points per game.

The driving force behind the Aces' early dominance is predictably A'ja Wilson. The four-time MVP has wasted no time starting the campaign for her fifth, as she leads the team with averages of 25 points, 5.6 rebounds and two blocks per game.

The Aces also have received a significant boost from free agent acquisition Chennedy Carter, who has shined in the sixth player role and ranks second on the team with an average of 19.4 points per game.

"I'm glad (Chennedy's) on our team," Gray said. "She gets in the paint with ease, so that's really nice to see. We let her work and get in there and make the right read, and a lot of the times that's her going. She's fast enough to just get down the lane quick and lay it up. After she does that, she's picking up 94 feet."

Carter's emergence has helped mitigate an uncharacteristic start from star Jackie Young, whose scoring average is down to 11.2 points per game from 16.5 points per game a year ago. Gray, on the other hand, has seen a slight increase to her season averages from a year ago to start the season, as she's averaging 12 points and 6.6 assists through five games.

The Sparks' season began with the decisive loss to the Aces, the first of four consecutive home games that left a lot to be desired for a team that had aspirations of competing for a title this season.

The Sparks (2-3) followed their opening defeat with an 87-78 loss to Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever before earning their first win of the season against the Toronto Tempo in a 99-95 thriller. The excitement was halted after the Tempo avenged that loss by taking the rematch 106-96 two nights later.

The Sparks did manage to earn their second win of the season on Thursday against the Phoenix Mercury, thanks to a team-high 27 points from Dearica Hamby. Los Angeles earned the victory despite Kelsey Plum being held under 25 points for the first time this season, though Plum still ranks third in the WNBA with an average of 24.6 points per game.

"Obviously I feel like the first four games, even with the win, we didn't show our best selves," Hamby said. "We just have had to have really hard conversations and look in the mirror ...

"We believe in each other. We're keeping our heads held high. Obviously it's just one game right now, but definitely turning in the right direction and showing what we're truly capable of."

-Field Level Media/Reuters