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Last Week in Las Vegas Sports (Dec 16 – 22)

Strap in. It’s time to go over what happened last week in Las Vegas sports (Dec 16 – 22).

Highlights

  • CM Punk’s WrestleMania plans
  • NBA Cup moving out of Las Vegas
  • UNLV beats California 24-13 in the Art of Sport Bowl
  • A’ja Wilson signs extension with Nike
  • Golden Knights rock Seattle 6-2
  • Raiders end ten-game losing streak

NBA open to moving tournament Cup out of Las Vegas

Key point: Las Vegas could lose the NBA Cup to home markets

Las Vegas is the home of the NBA Cup, but this has a good chance of changing in the future.  

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“Teams have expressed some interest in playing in the home markets,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday when asked about the future of the tournament’s location. “It’s complicated enough scheduling a neutral site. I’m not against playing in our markets.”

The problem is that many critics claim that home markets make the event feel less special. Las Vegas works as the backdrop for the Cup because it signifies its importance and gives it a grander stage.

WWE pitches marquee match ideas for CM Punk at WrestleMania 41

Key point: CM Punk could headline WrestleMania for the first time

CM Punk, WrestleMania 41, Last week in Las Vegas sports, Last week in Las Vegas sports news,
Source. WWE

CM Punk has never competed in WrestleMania’s main event, something that angers fans to this day. Fortunately for  Punk, there are rumblings that WWE wants him in a main title match at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas. 

 “I’ve heard so many things on Punk… But the one main factor that I’ve heard almost all year is they want him to be involved in a world title match. I don’t know how the puzzle pieces are going to fit but they want [Punk] at the top,” WrestleVotes said. “I don’t think it’ll be with Cody, so that’s one title match out the window.”

UNLV rocks CAL 24-13 in the Art of Sport LA Bowl

Key point: UNLV defeats Cal for first bowl win since 2000

Las Vegas Rebels, UNLV Football team, Las Vegas sports, Las Vegas sports news, Art of sports Bowl,
Source. UNLV

The UNLV Rebels made history last week with a 24-13 victory over California. This marks the first time the Rebels have won a College Bowl game since 2000. This also gives UNLV an 11-3 record, the first time they have had an 11-win season in 40 years. Vegas even came back from a 10-7 deficit in the first quarter to do it!

The defining blow was definitely when Rebels running back Kylin James broke out for a 23-yard run. That score gave Las Vegas a 21-13 lead, and they never looked back. Fast forward a few minutes later, and the Rebels sealed California’s fate with a 48-yard field goal. Las Vegas’ defense also did an amazing job of holding California to zero points in the second half to cap off the victory.

A’ja Wilson signs historic extension with Nike 

Key point: Nike wants to sign Wilson to a long-term deal

Las Vegas Aces, Last week In Las Vegas sports, A'ja Wilson, Nike shoe deal,
Source. WNBA

A’ja Wilson is a marketable player, so it should be no surprise that everyone wants a piece! Nike is following suit and signing the Las Vegas Aces star to a six-year contract extension with the company. The deal makes her one of the highest-paid women in sports and elevates her star power.  

“It’s been incredible working with Nike toward a dream of having my collection, and it is an honor to take this next step and become a Nike signature athlete,” Wilson said in a statement

Golden Knights knock off Seattle Kracken 6-2

Key point: Golden Knights ride three-game win streak after defeating Seattle

Las Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas sports news, Last week in Las Vegas sports, Las Vegas Golden Knights 2024
Source. Vegas Golden Knights

The Las Vegas Golden Knights are firing on all cylinders this season, and the Seattle Kraken were their latest victim on Saturday. Las Vegas set the tone early with three goals in the first period to the Kracken’s one. Things then got interesting in the second, where both teams held each other to a stalemate on offense. However, that didn’t last long, and the Golden Knights fired three more shots past the Kraken’s goalie to secure the 6-2 victory.

Mark Stone, Brett Howden, Keegan Kolesar, Nicolas Hague, Noah Hanifin, and William Karlsson all scored goals for the Golden Knights. Ilya Samsonov finished the game with two goals allowed in 23 shots.

Las Vegas Raiders top Jacksonville for first victory since September

Key point: Las Vegas Raiders win first game since September

Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Raiders victory, Las Vegas sports, Las Vegas sports news, Las Vegas Raiders versus Jacksonville Jaguars,
Source. Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders are finally back in the win column after a 19-14 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. This topples their ten-game losing streak that dates back to September and is a major morale boost for the team. Jacksonville scored first when Tank Bigsby punched it in from the one-yard line, but a touchdown by Alexander Mattison evened everything. Daniel Carlson also came up clutch with two great kicks to put the Raiders up 13-7

Jacksonville responded with a 62-yard pass from Mac Jones to Brian Thomas, putting them up one. That’s when the Raiders’ defense stepped up and didn’t allow the Jaguars to score a single point in the fourth quarter. They also tacked on a four-yard run by Ameer Abdullah and another field goal by Carlson for the 19-14 win. Aidan O’Connell finished the game with 24 of 38 passes completed for 257 yards and zero touchdowns. Las Vegas now moves on to face the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.

Honorable mention to Brock Bowers for surpassing the 1000-yard mark in his rookie season as a Las Vegas Raider. This makes Bowers only the third man in NFL history to do this in their first season. Bowers also broke the records for most catches in a rookie season for a Raider and is the first pass catcher since Jerry Rice to record 74  or more catches with the team.

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