VEGAS SPORTS REPORT: Aces Draw Fever, Brock Bowers Nears Raiders Return

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) playoff bracket is officially set after a dramatic final night of the regular season last night, with the Las Vegas Aces solidifying the No. 3 seed.

The Aces, the WNBA’s defending champions, rolled past the Phoenix Mercury, 100-82, led by 34 points and 10 rebounds from A’ja Wilson.

Golden State’s 76-75 comeback win over the Los Angeles Sparks secured the No. 2 seed for the Valkyries, leaving the Aces at No. 3, despite finishing 31-13 on the season.

Aces Draw Fever First

The Washington Mystics’ 101-93 win over Chicago, combined with the Indiana Fever’s 86-66 loss to Minnesota, moved the Mystics to the No. 5 seed and the Fever to No. 6.

That sets up a first-round, best-of-three series between the Aces and the Fever, with Game 1 on Sunday (Sept. 27) at 4 p.m. EST at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

Moneyline Favorites 

Center Aliyah Boston (lower leg) and guard Tyasha Harris (leg) are out for Indiana, while guard Dana Evans (knee) and forward NaLyssa Smith (leg) are out for the Aces.

DraftKings has the Aces as moneyline favorites in Game 1, at -155, with the Fever at +130. The Aces are listed as 3.5-point favorites for Sunday (Sept. 27).

The Aces look to win again with the same core–Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Wilson, the league’s reigning MVP, remains the WNBA’s best player in the eyes of many.

Bowers Nearing Raiders Return

Star tight end Brock Bowers is a real possibility to return to the Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) lineup for their game Sunday (Sept.27) (4:25 p.m. EST) at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans against the Saints, head coach Klint Kubiak said in a press briefing today (Sept. 25).

The Saints (1-1) are moneyline favorites at DraftKings at -192, with the Raiders at +160. The Saints are 3-point favorites (-122), and the Raiders are 3-point underdogs (+102).

“I’m optimistic,” said Kubiak, asked about Bowers, who has been out after knee surgery on Sept. 8. The Raiders won’t work him out pregame like they did last week against the L.A. Chargers.

Jeanty Looks to Rebound

DE Kwity Paye is questionable with an illness, and QB Aidan O’Connell is away from the team dealing with a family matter.

Kubiak was asked about last week’s disappointing performance by running back Ashton Jeanty, a game the Raiders won 26-14. Jeanty ran 21 times for just 48 yards (2.3-yard average).

“You can count on the same effort every day, and that’s the NFL,” he said. “It’s highs and lows. It’s ups and downs. And how do you respond is the question.”

The Raiders are in for a tough time facing Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, second in the NFL after two games with 662 yards (Green Bay’s Jordan Love is tops in the NFL with 844 yards), four touchdowns, two interceptions, and a passer rating (RTG) of 95.7.

Golden Knights Wrap Up Preseason

The Vegas Golden Knights shook off the rust just in time last night in their third preseason game, a 5-4 overtime win over the Utah Mammoth, with the veterans leading the charge – goals by Jeremy Lauzon, captain Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, then Jack Eichel in overtime.

The Golden Knights wrap up the preseason tomorrow (Sept. 26) against the San Jose Sharks.

Meanwhile, top prospect Trevor Connelly is making a serious push to make the team’s opening roster when the regular season starts next week. 

Connelly Pushes For Roster Spot

Vegas trimmed its roster to 28 players on Wednesday (Sept. 23), and Connelly survived the cuts. He’s skating on a line with Hertl and Victor Olofsson. 

Connelly, who had 49 points, including 14 goals, in 46 American Hockey League (AHL) games last season, was Vegas’ first-round pick in 2024.

Last season in the AHL, Connelly played for the Henderson Silver Knights under coach Ryan Craig, now the head coach of the Golden Knights. That familiarity with Craig has greatly benefited him during this year’s training camp, compared to his first camp last season under Bruce Cassidy.

Regular Season Kicks Off Tuesday

“Having him here has made me feel a lot more comfortable,” he says. “I am just sticking to my game. I talked with Craiger in the summer, and he said, take camp day by day. Don’t look too far ahead. So I think just get my job done every day, and then don’t try to look forward. 

“If I end up back in Henderson, that’s all right. Obviously, my goal is to be up here, but I love hockey so much. And anytime you get to be on the ice with these guys, it’s a blast.”

The Golden Knights open the season at home Tuesday (Sept. 29), hosting the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena.