Las Vegas Aces Take Their First ‘L’ Of The Season
The Las Vegas Aces played their third game in the WNBA 2024 season against the Phoenix Mercury for the second time this season. With a large target on our defending champions’ back, the Mercury handed them their first loss of the year 98-88. Phoenix Mercury’s Kahleah Copper scored 37 points, which is one point shy of her career-high of 38. That was accomplished in her previous game against the Atlanta Dream. Copper scored a driving lay-up with 40 seconds left in the game to secure the win against the Las Vegas Aces.
Las Vegas Aces Lose With A Mental Breakdown
The Aces started the game flat by allowing Kahleah Copper to hit four three-pointers in a row, on her way to 16 points in the first six minutes of the game to build a 22-12 lead against the defending champs.
The Las Vegas Aces looked slow and tired, and by the time Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson got going, they were already playing a major game of catch-up. The Mercury’s bench outscored the Aces 27-2. It makes me wonder why head coach Becky Hammond kept her starters in for almost the entire game. When you have a target on your back, you are going to get the opponent’s best game every night. So the Aces have to bring their best.
The Aces Dynasty Is Not In Jeopardy
The Las Vegas Aces are slowly becoming the new dynasty in the WNBA. Led by A’ja Wilson, they secured their place in history last season, becoming the 1st back to back champion in the “W” in 21 years. In game four of the finals last season she scored 24 points and 16 rebounds, cementing her name as the face of the WNBA today.
To me, that title was held by Diana Taurasi for years and she might be known as the G.O.A.T of the “W”. So far, to start the season, the Aces are 2-1. With a thug’s target on their back to be dethroned as champions. With the league evolving now and more eyes on women’s basketball, I’m sure the Aces would love to three-peat.
With a superstar in Wilson, averaging 24 points and 12 rebounds and a good supporting cast of Jackie Young, averaging 23 points 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, and Kelsey Plum averaging 21 points, it would be hard to bet against them. According to former NBA player Darius Rice “Veteran Alysha Clark, played in Israel when I played and she’s still putting up good numbers at 36 years old with eight points and five rebounds.”
The Aces Have The Right Balance To Win
The Aces have the right balance of players to continue to be a dynasty. Like the Cheryl Swoopes Tina Thompson days of the Houston Comets. They are fun to watch and bring a swagger to the game that people enjoy and also they play the game the right way. Aces players against rookies Caitlyn Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky are sure to draw 17 to 18 thousand fans and break records in attendance.
Related Story: Las Vegas: Here Is When Caitlin Clark Comes To Town, Will Take On Former Teammate
Las Vegas minority owner Tom Brady is sure to continue the growth and marketability of these ladies because they are on fire. The best starting hand in poker is Pocket Aces, and the way they are playing, it would be hard to not take these Aces to defend their title. So in other words, don’t let this “L” determine the outcome of their quest for another championship! They got this. Let’s go Aces!