The Aces haven’t been in this position much recently, but A’ja Wilson and company will be in search of a bounce-back victory on Thursday as the emerging Dallas Wings come to town to close out Las Vegas’ three-game homestand.
The Aces (12-5) took an 87-76 loss on Tuesday against the New York Liberty, the team they will meet in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final next week. Jackie Young led Las Vegas with 19 points in the defeat as A’ja Wilson was held to 16, and everyone on the team aside from reserve Cheyenne Parker-Tyus posted a negative plus-minus rating.
“Definitely some areas we have to clean up,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “I thought our sense of urgency got a little bit greater when we realized we were gonna lose the game. We need that from the jump. We kind of have to turn the page quickly. At the end of the day, it’s a game in June and we learn from it and we move on.”
The Wings (11-6) are coming off an exhilarating win. Second-year star Paige Bueckers poured in 27 points and rookie Azzi Fudd contributed a career-high 26 in Dallas’ 112-110 overtime victory against the host Seattle Storm on Monday.
It was the Wings’ third win in four games following a stretch of two defeats in three. Dallas sits in fifth place in the league, just a game behind third-place Las Vegas.
“You’ve got to bring it every night,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said. “We’re not sneaking up on anybody. The Dallas Wings ain’t sneaking up on anybody anymore. We’re going to get everybody’s best punch night in, night out. And that’s what our locker room’s got to understand.”
The Wings’ recent turnaround began with a 96-66 rout of the Aces on June 15 in Dallas. Arike Ogunbowale scored 22 to lead Dallas in that contest, while Fudd put up 19 on 8-of-9 shooting. Jessica Shepard compiled 15 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.
Jewel Loyd paced the Aces with 21 points and Wilson added 18 in that contest, but they were the only Las Vegas players to reach double figures. The Aces tied their lowest scoring output of the season, first produced in a 99-66 loss to the Phoenix Mercury in the opener.
–Field Level Media
