The Las Vegas Aces put together the largest margin of victory in franchise history on Saturday and don’t have a lot of hours to enjoy it.
After a 48-point shellacking of the Phoenix Mercury, the Aces are back on the floor Sunday night when they host the Indiana Fever.
Las Vegas (17-6) clicked on all cylinders and led by as many as 54 points in the 106-58 home victory over Phoenix. The previous mark of a 42-point victory occurred in 2012 when the franchise was located in San Antonio.
“Obviously, this is a historic win for us, but we have to turn the page,” Aces star A’ja Wilson said after the contest. “We have Indiana coming in here.”
Fever star Caitlin Clark (back) is listed as probable and expected to play Sunday. She sat out Thursday’s 92-89 road win over Phoenix.
Indiana coach Stephanie White said Clark will be observed closely.
“Oftentimes when you’re coming back from injury, fatigue is also a factor, and building endurance is also a factor,” White told reporters on Saturday. “When you’re fatigued, you have a tendency to get hurt. I do think that (holding Clark out Thursday) is just being cautious and making sure we put her long-term health and wellness as a priority.”
The contest marks the second time the Fever (13-9) visit the Aces on the four-game trip. Indiana registered an 84-68 victory to open it on July 5 and now returns to finish the excursion.
As White pointed out, Wilson was sidelined during the Fever’s recent win in Las Vegas. The four-time WNBA MVP was out with an ankle injury.
The challenge is much different with Wilson healthy and leading the Aces’ charge.
“It changes everything.” White said. “She’s one of the best players in the world. She has the ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor.”
Indiana guard Kelsey Mitchell scored 27 points in the win over Las Vegas and has tallied at least 26 in five straight games. She scored 29 against Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Wilson had game highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds in Saturday’s easy victory. The Aces led 29-9 after the first quarter and turned it into a game-long demolition.
“Obviously, it’s a good momentum game but it’s a new 40-minute game (Sunday),” Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said. “Nothing carries over.”
Due to the one-sided contest, rookie Justine Pissott, signed Tuesday, played the entire fourth quarter for the Aces and scored 19 points and set a league record with five 3-pointers in her first WNBA game.
Coincidentally, Pissott was a member of the Fever’s developmental squad. When Las Vegas offered Pissott a contract on Monday, Indiana had 24 hours to match it and retain her but declined.
–Field Level Media
