“They played with a greater sense of urgency. We couldn’t catch up,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said after her team’s 2nd-round opener vs. the Indiana Fever. Story on the 89-73 WNBA playoffs loss for @reviewjournal ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3463945

A'ja Wilson just posed on the court with her historic 4th MVP trophy, but now it's back to business. Game 1 of a new series! 3 things to watch in the Aces' 2nd-round matchup vs. the Indiana Fever: Unfamiliarity on both sides, pace and physicality⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3463688

It’s official. Aces star A’ja Wilson is the first 4-time winner of WNBA’s MVP award. More history for the 29-year-old in a decorated eight seasons. It wasn’t really close, with Wilson winning 51 first-place votes from a panel of 72 media members. lvrj.com/post/3463811

NEWS: A’ja Wilson gets her third Defensive Player of the Year award in unprecedented fashion. She and Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith each received 29 votes for the first tie in the award’s history.

It's halftime, the Aces are up 20, and Crime Mob is performing. A'ja Wilson is somewhere smiling.

We're at the point where A'ja Wilson is drawing MVP chants every single time she visits the free throw line.

Q1: Aces 22, Storm 12 The Aces look locked in and their defense stands out. 4 blocks to Seattle's 0. A'ja Wilson has 8 points and Jewell Loyd came off the bench to score 7 in a minute.

The postseason is here! You could feel the anticipation in the air at Michelob Ultra Arena yesterday. My primer for the Aces’ 1st-round WNBA playoffs series vs. the Seattle Storm ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3448094 for @reviewjournal

One on the ballot that people never talk about: the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship award. Wrote about Aces' nominee Jewell Loyd and her case as the "ideal sportsman." Fitting that she's now set to face her former team, the Seattle Storm, in the WNBA playoffs. lvrj.com/post/3439472

WNBA end-of-season award ballots were due this a.m. A'ja Wilson entered the Aces' regular-season finale as the betting favorite to win an unprecedented 4th MVP, a reminder of how her dominance shifted the race⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3440336 for @reviewjournal

The WNBA all-time record for 3-pointers in a game, playoff and regular-season, is also held by the Aces. They recorded 23 vs. the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series in 2022. Chelsea Gray had 7 of those treys.

The Aces definitely went out with a bang. They set a new WNBA regular-season record for 3-pointers in a game with 22 against the Los Angeles Sparks while extending their win streak to 16 games, which is also league record for the longest to close a season.

Kierstan Bell is still OUT(lower right leg) for the Aces’ regular season finale vs. the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday. She’s the only person on the injury report.

Veteran forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who signed with the Aces as a free agent this offseason and gave birth to her son Yoshua on July 1, had eight points in eight minutes in her first game with the team.

HALFTIME: Aces 43, Sky 35 It's positive that the Aces are shooting 53% from the floor and 50% from deep, but they don't have anyone scoring in double-figures and A'ja Wilson has only taken three field goal attempts.

Seeing Cheyenne Parker-Tyus check in for the Aces for the first time, just a few months removed from giving birth, then watching Jackie Young will that ball to her for her first bucket... that was special. Women are incredible.

Aces starters tonight vs. the Sky: Aaliyah Nye A’ja Wilson NaLyssa Smith Jackie Young Chelsea Gray   The rookie from Alabama gets her first career start in the Aces’ final regular season home game.

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is in, NaLyssa Smith is in and Kierstan Bell is out tonight vs. the Sky, per Becky Hammon in her pregame presser.

Update here: The Aces have added Kierstan Bell to the injury report as QUESTIONABLE (lower right leg)

Aces status report for tomorrow vs. the Chicago Sky is in! As most have seen by now, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is activated and available. NaLyssa Smith is listed as questionable instead of out, but she’s still in concussion protocol.

3 takeaways from Aces’ win: A’ja Wilson sets record as win streak hits 14 over Sky, Jackie Young not so silent and more for @reviewjournal ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3439082

Angel Reese will not be taking the court against the Aces despite her suspension being up. Sky PR announced at halftime that she's been ruled out, citing her back.

NEWS: NaLyssa Smith is OUT for tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Sky. She’s in concussion protocol after going down hard late in the 4th quarter of the Aces’ win over the Lynx on Thursday.

NEW: When you see A’ja Wilson, you see him too. My story on Leon “Sonny” Watson, the Aces’ beloved security director with a background that might surprise you. lvrj.com/post/3438638 for @reviewjournal

News for the Aces’ next game: Angel Reese will be suspended for the first half of Sunday’s matchup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas due to comments she made about her team in a recent article.

Loud MVP chants for A'ja Wilson after a big bucket extends the Aces' lead over the Lynx back to 10 points with 5:38 left to play

Q1: Aces 24, Lynx 24 A'ja Wilson is showing out. 10 points in eight minutes on 5-of-5 shooting from the field with a block on Napheesa Collier that made my jaw drop. Bridget Carleton leads Minnesota with 9 points.

It's finally an Aces game day again, and this Lynx matchup is a big one. On playoff implications/redemption, A'ja Wilson vs. Napheesa Collier, a larger stage and a looming return for @reviewjournal⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3433531

Notes from Aces HQ: -Becky Hammon gave them two days off after their last game, they practiced Sat, Sun. Came back today and impressed her w/the energy level. - Cheyenne Parker-Tyus has been getting integrated since they came back, today was her first full court action.

Been lacking on social media I’m back! Hopefully you’ve been following along with my coverage of the Aces’ 12-game win streak via @reviewjournal, but I’ll likely post whatever stories didn’t get shared before they take the court again on Thursday against the Lynx.

Kahleah Copper was just helped to the locker room. Aces and Mercury both gathered around her with towels as she stayed down on the court for a while.

HALFTIME: Aces 43, Mercury 29 A'ja Wilson is already almost to a double-double with 10 points and 8 rebounds. Jackie Young has 9 points, Chelsea Gray added 8 and Kierstan Bell has 6. Exactly the start you want in a game with the playoff implications this one has

That successful Aces challenge reminded me of this story from when the Aces were 6-0 in challenges coming out of the All-Star break. Becky Hammon credited John Lucas III for that success, so I spoke to him and learned about navigating WNBA officiating ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3415166

An undeniable factor in the Aces’ eight game win streak: Chelsea Gray. “This is the Chelsea we all know and love,” Becky Hammon said. “The person who brings the building up to its feet.” More on her importance in my latest for @reviewjournal ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3427598

Becky Hammon gave the Aces a unique gift at the start of this WNBA season and now her team is blooming at the right time. More on the coach’s giving nature + the difference between being planted and being buried for @reviewjournal.com ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3426254

It's almost time for the Aces to take on the Seattle Storm, which looked to improve at the WNBA trade deadline by adding Brittney Sykes. The Aces stuck with their roster, putting faith in what Becky Hammon called "moments of brilliance." lvrj.com/post/3410849

Yes, that was a battle. Yes, A’ja Wilson was playing with a black eye. More from me on the Aces’ win over the Valkyries tonight, the kind of showing you’d expect to take place at an arena nicknamed Ballhalla ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3410503 for @reviewjournal.com

The Aces are about to take the court at Chase Center in pursuit of back-to-back wins vs. Golden State. ICYMI, here's my story on their last matchup for @reviewjournal.com⬇️ Jewell Loyd leads Aces in rout of Valkyries after strong message from A’ja Wilson lvrj.com/post/3409111

Here’s my understanding of where the Aces stand ahead of the WNBA trade deadline for @reviewjournal.com ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3410002

These are the starters vs. the *Valkyries, my bad!

Same Aces starters as the past couple of games vs. the Lynx today: Kierstan Bell A’ja Wilson NaLyssa Smith Jackie Young Chelsea Gray

Natalie Nakase on not underestimating the Aces after their 53-point loss vs. the Lynx: “Anytime a team gets defeated like that, you come out with a certain rage… You never want to lose by that many. So that next game is now your time to showcase your skills, your heart, your fight.”

Kayla McBride is 8-of-8 from the floor tonight off nothing but 3-pointers. She made three straight treys to end the first half. Aces trail 67-33.

Bad news of Q1: Minnesota has a 35-17 lead over the Aces. That's a big hole to start in against the league-leading Lynx Good news: Everyone in the building won a free slice of pizza because Jessica Shepard missed both of her free throws

Same Aces starters as the past couple of games vs. the Lynx today: Kierstan Bell A’ja Wilson NaLyssa Smith Jackie Young Chelsea Gray

Reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson isn’t thinking about external validation this year. She wants to make her team better. Ahead of today’s matchup with the Lynx, I wrote about Wilson’s mindset and the steps she’s taking to do that for @reviewjournal.com ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3408714

Reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 34 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Jackie Young recorded 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the first triple-double of her career.

It’s almost time for Aces at Sparks! Jewell Loyd will come off the bench again tonight. In preparation for the matchup, I took a look at the Loyd-Kelsey Plum trade now that we’re past the halfway mark of the season ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3404401 for @reviewjournal.com

Center Kiah Stokes was sidelined for the Aces’ win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday due to illness but she will be available Tuesday against the Los Angeles Sparks

On the Aces' blowout loss to the Lynx ⬇️ lvrj.com/post/3403538 for @reviewjournal