The Las Vegas Aces don’t have much time to set aside the worst home loss in WNBA history.
Of course, getting back on the court quickly could be good for the Aces.
One day after losing by 53 points to the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas will host the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday in an attempt to eliminate the bad taste. The contest is the first of a home-and-home set between the teams.
There were zero positives for the Aces (14-14) while being steamrolled 111-58 by Minnesota.
Las Vegas trailed by 18 after one quarter and 67-33 at halftime. The deficit was 43 points after three quarters before the Aces scored nine fourth-quarter points.
“This is the first time I’ve ever lost like that,” said guard Jewell Loyd, in her first season with Las Vegas after playing 10 campaigns for the Seattle Storm. “Obviously, it’s not a great feeling.”
Aces coach Becky Hammon was highly distressed that Minnesota shot 59.2 percent from the field, including a stellar 17 of 27 (63 percent) from 3-point range.
“We started the oven for them,” Hammon said afterward. “They were on a heater, and we lit the gas up by being out of position. … We did everything at a Grade F today.”
Loyd had 12 points off the bench to lead the Aces. A’ja Wilson (10 points) was the only starter in double digits.
Las Vegas has lost five games by 20 or more points this season and one came in the first-ever meeting against the Valkyries.
Golden State blitzed the visiting Aces 95-68 on June 7. The Aces avenged that setback with a high-octane 104-102 home victory on July 12. Wilson had 34 points and 16 rebounds and Jackie Young scored 30 points in the latter affair.
Golden State enters this matchup with three straight wins and a 3-1 mark on a five-game road trip.
Veronica Burton scored 18 points on Friday as the Valkyries notched a 73-66 win over the Chicago Sky.
“We really trust each other and play for each other,” Burton said in a postgame television interview.
Golden State has been short-handed since losing All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending right knee injury. Monique Billings sprained her right ankle against the Atlanta Dream on July 29 and will miss at least three more weeks.
Tiffany Hayes (left leg) and Cecilia Zandalasini (left foot) also missed the Chicago game. Both players are listed as questionable for Sunday.
Iliana Rupert played 24 minutes off the bench against Chicago and made 4 of 5 3-point shots while scoring 14 points. She is 12 of 21 (57.1 percent) from 3-point range in five games with the Valkyries.
“She’s been incredible,” Burton said of Rupert. “For her to be able to join us this late and have the impact she’s had is huge. She shoots the lights out of the ball.”
–Field Level Media
