BEGINNING AND END
Sky score final 11 points, capped by Quigley’s three, in WNBA opener
BRADENTON, Fla. — Kahleah Copper scored 18 points, Allie Quigley made a go-ahead threepointer with 14.7 seconds left and the Sky scored the final 11 points to defeat the Las Vegas Aces 88-86 on Sunday in the WNBA season opener for both teams.
The Aces had eliminated the Sky from the playoffs last season on a 38-foot three-pointer in the closing seconds by Dearica Hamby.
‘‘It was a sweet way to end [the game],’’ said Quigley, who admitted the playoff loss last season was on her mind before her go-ahead shot.
Gabby Williams added 14 points, Azura Stevens 12 and Quigley 10 for Sky. Quigley’s late three-pointer gave the Sky their first lead since midway through the second quarter.
‘‘Got the first-game jitters out,’’ Quigley said. ‘‘A little ugly, but we had some great players step up . . . . It was huge. We can just be a little more confident in the next game.’’
Angel McCoughtry, who signed with the Aces as a free agent in February after missing all of last season with the Atlanta Dream because of a knee injury, scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds. A’ja Wilson added 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Aces.
Hamby made a layup to give the Aces an 86-77 lead with 4:29 left, but they went 0-for-10 from the field and committed three turnovers from there.
The Aces scored the first 10 points of the second half to open a 58-46 lead. The Sky used a 10-3 spurt to tie the score at 71 with 9:14 left, but McCoughtry answered with a three-point play and a jumper before Jackie Young made a layup to push the Aces’ lead back to seven.
The Aces are without three-time All-Star Liz Cambage (health concerns) and Kelsey Plum (Achilles tendon) for the season.
The 2020 season, which was delayed and shortened by the coronavirus pandemic, will be played in its entirety at the IMG Academy in Bradenton.