By R.L. Bynum
It’s challenging to make a WNBA roster as an undrafted rookie. But if there’s a path, Deja Kelly may be laying it out.
The former North Carolina and Oregon point guard received the Las Vegas Aces’ final training camp invitation, and she is making the most of her chance.
Kelly scored a game-high 15 points, including the game-winner, as the host Aces pulled out an 85–84 exhibition home victory Tuesday over the Phoenix Mercury on a night that Nike unveiled star A’ja Wilson’s signature shoe.
“I think it’s just a sense of gratitude for this opportunity, to be able to play in this arena on [Wilson’s] special night, in front of all these fans, wearing this jersey,” Kelly said. “Overall, it’s just taking advantage, seizing the moment and really just embracing an opportunity.”
The way she won the game came as no surprise to anybody who saw Kelly play four years for the Tar Heels — she hit one of her patented mid-range jumpers. The shot from the free-throw line with 3.8 seconds left came after putting a couple of moves on former Notre Dame forward Kathryn Westbeld as Phoenix was switching on everything.
“That’s kind of what I’ve done my whole career, just trying to make things happen,” said Kelly, who had nine points Friday in a 112–78 Las Vegas win over Dallas in the Aces’ exhibition opener in South Bend, Ind. “And luckily, I was able to do it for our team tonight.”
Kelly scored seven points during a five-minute stretch of the third quarter, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that cut Las Vegas’ deficit to one point after three quarters.
Kelly was 5 of 7 from the floor, 4 of 4 from the free-throw line, with two assists in Tuesday’s game.
Las Vegas’ main point guard last season was former Notre Dame star Jackie Young, with Chelsea Gray also playing at that spot. The Aces also have newcomer Jewell Loyd, acquired from Seattle, who has been primarily a shooting guard in the WNBA, playing alongside Sue Bird in Seattle.
Aces guard Dana Evans hasn’t played in either preseason game as she works to recover from a left knee injury
Las Vegas has two more exhibition games, including Saturday’s 1 p.m. road contest against the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty, to be televised on ABC.
The Aces roster now includes 15 players and must be cut to 12 before their opener on May 23.
Photo via @LVAces
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