The game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Toronto Tempo saw no shortage of action as the Aces sealed an 88-78 victory at the Rogers Arena on Sunday. Arguably the most notable highlight of the game was produced when Chelsea Gray stood up for her teammate Mai Yamamoto in a play involving Tempo’s Isabelle Harrison. The incident quickly created chatter among the fans after the game was finished.
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The sequence happened with around 7:09 left in the second quarter of the game and was posted to X by user @ShowCaseShabazz. The Tempo are trailing 26-31 in the game. Tempo forward Laura Juškaitė attempts a floating pass from the arc to Isabelle Harrison. However, Yamamoto intercepts the pass, much to the annoyance of Harrison, it seems, as she is allegedly seen reaching around Yamamoto and then ultimately pushing her away, even after the whistle is called.
Chelsea Gray apparently did not like this whole sequence and immediately confronted Harrison to defend her teammate, even slightly shoving the Tempo player. Gray and Harrison had to be separated by their teammates to prevent a physical altercation.
As the video gained online traction, the fans wasted no time in giving their reaction to this sequence.
“Chels a real vet,” one fan said. Chelsea Gray, now in her 12th WNBA season, knows what’s acceptable on court, and her reaction suggests that she did not find this play by Harrison to her liking.
“She’ll cuss you out for any of her teammates. I love her,” another fan said, referring to the fact that Chelsea Gray is known for standing up for her teammates. The Aces have always been a close-knit group under Becky Hammon.
“That’s a really good play on Yamamoto’s part. Used to see Muggsy Bogues do that all the time at 5’3”. She’s a baller,” one fan said while referring to the fact that the crafty 5’3 guard was able to steal the ball from a much taller Harrison.
This is similar to what fans saw from legendary NBA player Tyrone Curtis, aka Muggsy Bogues, who was the shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association, at just 5 ft 3 in. He had a storied career despite his height disadvantage and spent 14 years in the NBA with four different teams.
“Money Moto with the steal,” another fan said warmly, referring to Yamamoto’s nickname.
“Izzy is really out here picking fights with the smallest person on the court like that’s a flex,” another fan added.
After this win against the Tempo, the Aces are now third in the standings with a 26-13 record and will look to finish the season in the top four to secure home-court advantage in the playoffs, as they take on the Tempo again at home in the reverse fixture in their next game on August 28.