Las Vegas Aces
The Aces have won it all the last two years. Is a third championship in the cards?
The Aces are the two-time defending WNBA Champions but currently sit in the fifth seed of the WNBA standings. Last year the Aces recorded six regular season losses, this year they have eight with sixteen games to go.
Las Vegas has had some bumps in the road this year, leading them to a 16-8 record.
Candace Parker retired from the game. Parker considered one of the GOATS of women’s basketball, played an important role on the Aces. The former two-time MVP and three-time WNBA Champion started 18 games last year. When healthy she gave the Aces a veteran presence with a consistent outside stroke.
Chelsea Gray aka Point Gawd, missed the start of the season due to injury. Last year’s WNBA Finals MVP, is the glue that holds together Las Vegas’ offense. With her only playing 11 games so far, it has put more on Kelsey Plum’s plate. Plum was forced to play more on the ball instead of coming off screens for open shots. Since Gray has returned the Aces are 9-2 with one of those losses coming in OT in LA.
Let’s dig into some stats.
Key Stats
16-8 Straight up
10-14 ATS
13-11 to the over
88.7 points per game
45.4% field goal percentage
34.8% three-point field goal percentage
9.4 three-pointers made per game
83.9% free-throw percentage
6 offensive rebounds per game
12 turnovers per game
83 points per game allowed
43% opponent’s field goal percentage
36.4% opponent’s three-point field goal percentage
8.2 three-pointers allowed per game
77.2 opponent’s free-throw percentage
7.3 offensive rebounds allowed per game
12.8 turnovers forced per game
Offensively, the Aces are very impressive but defensively they need help. They can outscore most opponents but if their shots are not falling the Aces don’t play quality enough defense to keep them in the game.
Key Players
A’ja Wilson
Wilson is that…. well you know and the rest of the league knows it. The two-time MVP, a two-time champion, and now a two-time gold medal recipient is having a career year. After losing out on a third MVP last season she is leaving the rest of the league in her dust.
Wilson was quoted as saying “I feel like the most motivation for me—and everyone probably knows this story—is the fourth-place vote." Feeling slighted by that one-fourth-place vote has unleashed the beast.
Wilson’s stats this year
27.2 points per game
11.9 rebounds per game
2.5 assists per game
1.8 steals per game
Scored at least 11 points in every game this year
If Wilson does not win the MVP with a unanimous vote that will be shocking.
Jackie Young
Young is a dynamic score who is having a career year. Young has been balling out for the Aces and they have needed all her efforts.
Young is averaging career highs in:
Points-18.5 per game
Rebounds-4.7 per game
Assists- 5.6 per game
Free-throws-3.6 per game
If it was not for A’ja Wilson, Young would be in the race for MVP.
Remaining Schedule
The Aces currently sit a half-game out of the fourth spot currently occupied by the Storm. They should not have a problem catching Seattle but going any higher will be tough sleding.
The Aces have the third-hardest remaining schedule. With two remaining games each with New York, Connecticut, and Minnesota out of their remaining 16, it will be an easy home stretch.
Fanudel has the Aces as the favorite to win the WNBA Finals at +155 and their win totals at 27.5 juiced to the over at -154 with the under at +120.
I can see the Aces losing five games and falling short of 28 wins. The Championship is a real possibility but the Olympic break has allowed the teams with injuries to get healthy. It will not be easy.
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