LAS VEGAS (AP) — Four-time MVP A'ja Wilson scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Aces to an 89-79 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night and clinch at least a No. 3 playoff seed for Las Vegas.
The Aces (30-13), on a six-game winning streak, will get home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which begin Sunday. If the standings hold, they would face No. 6 seed Washington (27-16) in the best-of-three series.
Chelsea Gray scored 17 points of for the Aces, Stephanie Talbot had 14 points and Jackie Young totaled 14 points and 11 assists.
Nneka Ogwumike, who was honored before the game, scored 17 points to lead the Sparks (16—27). Erica Wheeler added 16 points.
The Aces used a 15-point run in the first quarter to take early control, going up 17-5. They led by 17 points when the Sparks went on their own long run, an 11-point spurt in the second period to cut the lead to 35-29.
Los Angeles then remained within striking distance, but never closed the gap. Las Vegas' 10-point run in the third period put the Aces back in control with a 63-45 lead.
The Aces presented Ogwumike, an eight-time All-Star and 2016 MVP, with a flower bouquet before the game. Ogwumike, who announced Aug. 19 she would retire after this season, also received a standing ovation from the crowd. She also is president of the players' union.
Los Angeles played without Dearica Hamby (left knee) and Cameron Brink (right ankle). Hamby, who played in the Aces' organization from 2015-22, averages 14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds. Brink, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, averages 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Sparks: Close their season Thursday night by hosting Golden State.
Aces: End their regular season Thursday night at Phoenix.
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Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, who previously announced that she will retire at the end of the 2026 season, is recognized before an WNBA basketball game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Los Angeles Sparks Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) reacts after making a basket against the Los Angeles Sparks during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) makes a rebound between Los Angeles Sparks guards Rae Burrell (12) and Chance Gray during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman could play again in the regular season after he sustained multiple facial fractures when he was struck in the face by a foul ball on Sunday.
Chicago manager Craig Counsell said Bregman did a light workout in the weight room on Tuesday and tracked pitches from a machine in a batting cage. There are no plans to place him on the injured list.
“He’s got still significant swelling in his face and his eye that needs to improve,” Counsell said. “But all things considered, he’s in a good place.”
Bregman was on deck in the fourth inning of a 9-1 win at Cincinnati when he was hit on the left side of his face on Michael Busch's check-swing foul ball. Bregman immediately jogged toward the Cubs’ dugout and covered his face before going back to the clubhouse with an athletic trainer.
“When everything was going down on Sunday afternoon, I think that we all thought the worst case might be a possibility,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “And all the news since then has been really good. He’s had a lot of different doctor’s appointments, and they’ve been positive. And I think we have to take it one step at a time.”
Pedro Ramírez started at third in Tuesday night's 8-2 loss to Miami in 12 innings. He went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts. Matt Shaw also could fill in at third while Bregman is out.
Chicago (87-70) can clinch an NL wild card with a win over Miami on Wednesday or a loss by Arizona at Colorado.
The Cubs have five games left in the regular season. But the schedule for their weekend series at Boston is in flux because of heavy rain in the forecast.
“I think Alex is going to be fine. I really do,” Counsell said. “The guy is ... he's driving home from Cincinnati and he wants to play. So he’s planning on playing. He knew he had to get some good news from the doctors. He got that good news. So he’s going to do everything in his power, and as long as I think symptoms don’t kind of increase or happen as he increases activity, I think you’re going to see him play.”
Bregman is batting .262 with 26 homers and 89 RBIs in 153 games during his first season with Chicago. The three-time All-Star signed a $175 million, five-year contract with the Cubs in free agency.
The 32-year-old Bregman got off to a rough start in his new home, hitting just .229 with two homers in his first 20 games. But he has been one of Chicago's most productive players since the All-Star break, batting .305 with 17 homers and 48 RBIs in his last 57 games.
Bregman also has excelled in the postseason in the past. He won two World Series championships with the Houston Astros. He appeared in at least two postseason games in each of the previous nine years.
“To see a friend and a teammate just get hit in the face and bleeding like that is awful,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “I think his reactions to everything has been uplifting, just him being relentlessly aggressive and positive and speaking out, all the things that he's excited to do.”
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Chicago Cubs' Alex Bregman celebrates after a one-run single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)
