Featuring a heart-stopping match-up between two of the best teams in the WNBA
On Saturday, June 13, the Las Vegas Aces faced off against their frenemies, the intimidating Minnesota Lynx. Though the Lynx are still without superstar Napheesha Collier (out, left ankle), they still made a case for why this particular game (97-100, Aces) was a playoff preview.
Adult Gray and “Baby Gray” Put on a Fiery Display
The game really started off on a high note for Aces fans when Chelsea Gray hit back-to-back-to-back threes. The Aces rode that energy with an incredibly effective and connected offense that tripped up Kayla McBride and confused potential Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles for a bit. You couldn’t hear a single thing in that arena with how loud fans were. There was a thirst for vengeance in those cheers; the sting of that 53-point loss still ringing in their ears.
But Miles didn’t stay confused for long, as she got her footing and racked up a career-high 29 points. Though every three-point shot she secured made the Aces audience flinch, there was still an electric excitement in the air witnessing the future of the league come into her own. And not only that, it was a thrill to watch Miles face off against the same veteran she modeled her own game after, Gray. Her own teammates have called her “baby Chelsea Gray,” only adding to the exhilaration of this match-up.
During the press conference Nalyssa Smith answered a reporter’s question about Miles’ play and drawing bigs out to dart in. Smith was very complimentary about the rookies’ game. “I think she’s a great player. She showed numerous times that she could be great at big moments, and I mean, the stat shows it for itself, but I think she’s doing an amazing job of what she’s doing.”
A Slugfest Between Juggernauts
Meanwhile, A’ja Wilson continues doing A’ja Wilson things. What would be astonishing for any other player is almost a regular night for her, scoring 24 points, with 10 rebounds. And if at any point Wilson couldn’t secure the basket, Smith was right behind her getting the bucket. There was magic in the way the offense really connected in the first half, while the defense seemed to have found their footing.
The second half of the game you could see fatigue set in for the Aces, while the Lynx started revving up in the fourth quarter, almost snatching the win from the Vegas team. However some mistakes from McBride (fouling Jewel Lloyd to shoot 3 free throws), and Courtney Williams and Miles missing crucial threes helped Aces fans breathe a sigh of relief as the home team solidified the win.
An Aces-Lynx match-up is always going to bring the buzz, because the likelihood of these two teams ending up in the playoffs doing this again is very high. It felt like a playoffs preview, even without Collier. And with Collier? The Lynx become even scarier. Head Coach Becky Hammon has reiterated time and time again that the Aces’ defense needs to step up and stay up throughout the entire game.
Hammon acknowledged that although the Aces still need to work on their defense that the Lynx are just a hard team to beat. “Tough team, very good defensively. I’m sure both me and Cheryl [Reeve] are gonna be looking at the defensive end of the bowl. She’s not happy giving up 100 [points] and I’m not happy giving up 97. At the end of the day, it was probably fun to watch, but one of those games that as a coach probably drives you crazy.”
The Las Vegas Aces will face off against the Dallas Wings on Monday, June 15.
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