Aces Clinch Playoff Berth Behind Jackie Young's 32 Points
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- Jackie Young scored a season-high 32 points with five 3-pointers, including 12 straight in the fourth quarter capped by a trey with 4:17 left for a 74-64 lead in the Aces' 83-76 win.
- Las Vegas Aces (24-11) clinched a playoff spot, becoming the second team to do so behind the league-best Minnesota Lynx and moving within a game of Golden State (24-9).
- Becky Hammon became the fifth head coach in WNBA history to make the playoffs in each of their first five seasons, per ESPN Research, trailing only Sandy Brondello's 13 straight to start a career.
- A'ja Wilson added 15 points and Jewell Loyd chipped in 13 as Las Vegas built an early 14-2 lead despite missing their first eight second-quarter field goal attempts.
- Shakira Austin posted 29 points and eight rebounds and Sonia Citron added 17 points and eight assists for the Mystics, who have lost two straight after a seven-game winning streak.
Why it matters: The Aces firm up their hold on a top playoff seed — moving within one game of Golden State — while Hammon joins an elite five-coach club for playoff appearances to start a career. Washington's stumble after a seven-game run puts its seeding at risk with the postseason looming.
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