By: Jennifer Portee
5/14/2026
The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun 98-69. The Aces had a spark off the bench, Chennedy Carter! Chennedy Carter didn’t come to warm the seat she came to change the game. Off the bench she had 27 points on an absurd 13-of-16 shooting night, dishing 8 assists and picking up two steals showing the Aces’ depth is as lethal as any starting five in the league.
There’s a way she plays that feels both instant and inevitable: quick decision-making, fearless finishes, and an ability to punish defensive slack with drives and layups. Carter’s early start (7-of-9 in the first half) helped Las Vegas build the lead, but it was the third-quarter coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer that felt like the clip that other teams will be replaying in film sessions.
This was more than a scoring night. Carter’s playmaking kept ball movement flowing, creating looks for Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd and the rest of the unit while the bench collectively had 48 points. A’ja Wilson did the dirty work too 22 points and 11 boards in just 22 minutes for her 121st career double-double, but Carter’s efficiency and timing made her the headline. She didn’t lean on free throws, she attacked the paint, finished with authority and left defenders scrambling.
Connecticut never found its rhythm. The Sun shot poorly, missed from deep, and were dominated on the glass a trio of issues compounded by the absences of Brittney Griner and Aaliyah Edwards. Still, individual fighters like Aneesah Morrow and Olivia Nelson-Ododa battled hard, but the energy and execution from Las Vegas’ reserves turned the evening into a blowout.
Carter’s game rewrites a few narratives. She’s not just a scoring spark off the bench she’s a playmaker who forces defensive adjustments and can carry offensive flow when needed. That kind of presence changes how opponents prepare and gives the Aces schematic flexibility: more minutes, specialized sets, or high-leverage matchups come into play.
These two teams meet again Friday in Connecticut. Will the Sun find answers on the glass and from distance? Will Las Vegas ride Carter’s zone or fold her back into a rotational secret? For coaches and fans alike, tonight was a reminder that a player who does damage without the starter’s minutes becomes a problem that can’t be ignored.
Top Stats:
- Chennedy Carter: 27 points, 8 assists, 2 steals, 13-16 FG.
- A’ja Wilson: 22 points, 11 rebounds (121st double-double).
- Team notes: Las Vegas bench combined for 48 points; final score Aces 98, Sun 69.