LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (February 29, 2024)—The Las Vegas Aces introduced as we speak that they’ll play a preseason recreation towards the Puerto Rico Nationwide Staff on the College of South Carolina on Saturday, Might 11. Hosted by ProHoops Sports activities & Occasions, the sport will mark a homecoming for the 2018 consensus NCAA Participant of the 12 months and two-time WNBA M’VP A’ja Wilson, who led the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Championship in 2017.
Tickets for the sport, which ideas at 1 pm ET at Colonial Life Area, begin at $20 every and go on sale at 12 pm ET/9 am PT on March 3 through Ticketmaster.com.
“I’m excited and might’t wait to return to Columbia with my Aces group,” mentioned Wilson, South Carolina’s first No. 1 WNBA Draft decide. “It’s my dream to have the ability to return to the place the place it began and showcase what my abilities are actually. This implies the world to me, and I’m very a lot trying ahead to it.”
“What a recognition of our metropolis and our FAMS for the two-time WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces to create a particular occasion right here in Columbia,” mentioned South Carolina head coach Daybreak Staley. “Clearly, we’re excited to see A’ja play on her former dwelling courtroom at Colonial Life Area once more, however we additionally like to see this sort of artistic decision-making that enables our sport to proceed to develop on all ranges.”
Along with Wilson, the back-to-back WNBA Champion Aces roster additionally options three-time WNBA champions Alysha Clark, Chelsea Grey and Candace Parker; and two-time W champs Kelsey Plum, Jackie Younger, Kiah Stokes, Sydney Colson and Kierstan Bell. The Aces are coached by Naismith and Ladies’s Basketball Corridor of Famer Becky Hammon.
Puerto Rico is one in all 12 nations that may function within the 2024 Paris Olympic girls’s basketball event this summer time, and the group will use this exhibition as a part of its coaching within the lead-up to its second-straight Olympic berth.
In Wilson’s 4 years at South Carolina, the Gamecocks compiled a 129-16 (.890) document, gained the 2017 NCAA Event, superior to the 2015 NCAA Closing 4, 2018 Elite Eight and 2016 NCAA Candy 16, whereas capturing three SEC common season titles and 4 SEC Event crowns.
Along with being named the consensus Nationwide Participant of the 12 months as a senior, Wilson was the 2017 NCAA Closing 4 Most Excellent Participant, a three-time All-America first group choice and thrice earned SEC Participant of the 12 months honors.
The sport towards Puerto Rico will mark Wilson’s second return to Colonial Life Area since graduating in 2018. She performed in a USA Basketball Nationwide Staff intrasquad exhibition recreation on Sept. 5, 2018, and she or he recorded 16 factors and seven rebounds to assist lead the USA White Staff to a 100-75 win over the USA Purple Staff.
The Aces start their quest for a three-peat at home on May 14 towards the Phoenix Mercury.
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