All-Star Chelsea Gray returns to Aces, Jackie Young scores 32 to help stop Storm 94-83

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jackie Young scored 32 points, A'ja Wilson added 27 and the Las Vegas Aces celebrated the return of All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray by defeating the Seattle Storm 94-83 on Wednesday night.

Gray, a five-time All-Star and 2020 Olympic gold-medal winner who will head to the Paris Games next month, had seven assists, four rebounds and two blocks with one point in 15:30 minutes. Gray missed the first dozen games of the season with a left foot injury, plus the clincher last year when Las Vegas beat the Liberty for its second-straight championship.

“Man, I missed this game so much. Never taking it for granted,” Gray said. “It’s a long journey, lots of crying, lots of sleepless nights, a lot of conversations. I’m so thankful to be back on this court.”

Kelsey Plum scored 11 points for Las Vegas (7-6), which led by double figures from the 1:53 mark of the first quarter and by as many as 20 points. Tiffany Hayes had 10 points, and Alysha Clark added 10 off the bench.

Young missed her career-high by two points and Wilson had 16 in the fourth quarter, giving her 20 straight games with at least 20 points. The Aces shot 56% (35 of 63) for the game with 25 assists on the 35 baskets.

Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points for the Storm (9-6). Ezi Magbegor had 19 with 13 rebounds, Jordan Horston added 18 and Skylar Diggins-Smith had 10.

Seattle's Jewell Loyd, who led the league in scoring last season at more than 24 points a game and came in averaging just less than 20, missed nine shots and was held to a single point, ending a streak of 55 games in double figures. Loyd scored one point in a loss to Las Vegas on Aug. 7, 2022.

Gray entered the game to a standing ovation with 1:41 to play in the first quarter and 20 seconds later picked up the 1,500th assist of her career when Clark hit a 3-pointer to make it 26-13.

“A lot of love from the fans,” said Gray, the ninth WNBA player to reach 1,500 assists. “They were amazing.”

It was 29-16 at the end of the quarter.

With Young pouring in 19 points, the Aces led 47-32 at the half. Ogwumike had 12 points for the Storm, who had 10 turnovers and shot 41%.

The Aces led 59-40 in the third quarter when Plum hit a 3-pointer and followed with a layup. Wilson's layup made it 61-42. Ogwumike had a 3-pointer and Magbegor converted a 3-point play inside the final two minutes and the Storm closed within 66-54 entering the fourth quarter.

The lead was at 20 when Plum fed Wilson for a layup with 4:21 to go. Seattle had a surge to get it back to 11 with 2 1/2 minutes to play but got no closer.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, front left, and players celebrate during a timeout in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) shoots in front of Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor (13) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) passes the ball while Seattle Storm guard Jordan Horston (23) defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike, left, is defended by Las Vegas Aces center Megan Gustafson (17) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center Kiah Stokes (41) celebrates with guard Kelsey Plum (10) after scoring a 3-point basket against the Seattle Storm during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor, left, drives toward the hoop while Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson defends during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) shoots over Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor (13) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) drives between Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) and guard Skylar Diggins-Smith during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon watches play during the first half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) drives to the basket during the first half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) shoots a layup against Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd, left, center Ezi Magbegor (13) and guard Victoria Vivians (35) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) and Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd (24) fight for the ball during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) is congratulated by teammates Kiah Stokes (41) and Kelsey Plum (10) after scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Seattle Storm coach Noelle Quinn calls out to players during the first half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, left, and Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor (13) vie for the ball during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guards Chelsea Gray (12) and Kelsey Plum (10) celebrate a play during the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

ATLANTA (AP) — The first general election debate of the 2024 election season is here, and it's a historic moment no matter what happens on stage.

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are taking part in Thursday night's debate in Atlanta. Not only is it the first-ever matchup between a sitting president and a former one, but it's also the first debate for either candidate in this year's election. And it's happening so early in the general election campaign cycle that neither man will have accepted their party's formal nomination yet.

Here’s how to watch the debate:

The debate will start at 9 p.m. ET Thursday. It’s being moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.

CNN is carrying the debate live on its broadcast network, as well as on CNN International, CNN en Español and CNN Max. Viewers can also stream it without a log in on CNN's website. Several networks have also agreed to carry the event live.

The setting for the first general election debate is CNN's studios in Atlanta. Unlike the Republican primary debates, no audience will be present.

Once a Republican stronghold, Georgia was a pivotal battleground in 2020. Both parties are preparing for another closely contested race in the state this year. Trump also faces an indictment in Georgia for his push to “find 11,780 votes” and overturn Biden’s victory based on false or unproven theories of voter fraud.

Two candidates — Biden and Trump — will be on stage. For a time, it seemed like they wouldn't be meeting up at all.

Biden’s campaign had proposed excluding third-party candidates, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from the debates outright. Under the debate commission’s rules, Kennedy or other third-party candidates could qualify if they secured ballot access sufficient to claim 270 Electoral Votes and polled at 15% or higher in a selection of national surveys.

Both CNN and ABC announced the same qualification threshold, saying candidates will need to reach at least 15% in four separate national polls of registered or likely voters that meet their standards, between March 13 and a week ahead of Thursday’s match up. Last week, CNN announced that Kennedy hadn’t met those markers.

Trump didn’t take part in any of the GOP primary debates, so this is his first time on stage this cycle. Biden didn’t debate any of the Democrats challenging him, either.

Last month, Biden announced that he would not participate in fall presidential debates sponsored by the nonpartisan commission that has organized them for more than three decades. Instead, his campaign proposed that media outlets directly organize the debates between the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees.

Hours later, Biden said he had accepted an invitation from CNN, adding, “Over to you, Donald.” Trump, who had insisted he would debate Biden anytime and anyplace, said on Truth Social he’d be there, too, adding, “Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!” Soon after that, they agreed to a second debate.

ABC will host the second debate on Sept. 10. The network has not offered details on where its event would be held, only that it would be moderated by anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.

And don't forget about the running mates. Trump hasn't named his yet, but Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted an invitation from CBS News to debate her eventual rival in studio on either July 23 or Aug. 13.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.

FILE - Ben Starett, lighting programmer for CNN, sets up lights in the spin room for the presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump in Atlanta, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)