Game of the week
In the first meeting between the two new superteams of the league, the Las Vega Aces proved that they are still a cut above the rest by plowing through the New York Liberty, 98-81, last Friday. All five starters scored in double-figures for the Aces, who haven’t lost since early June.
At the forefront was Kelsey Plum who fired 18 points and dropped eight assists. A’ja Wilson was right behind with 16 points while Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray had 15 points and 14 points, respectively. Newcomer Candace Parker added 15 points, including three triples.
It was a highly anticipated matchup between the two franchises who made the biggest splashes in the offseason. The Aces, already the favorites as the defending champion, added the aforementioned Parker but also picked up veteran Alysha Clark. The Liberty formed their superteam by acquiring a couple of MVPs in Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, plus Courtney Vandersloot to join Sabrina Ionescu and Betnijah Laney.
The game lived up to the hype as a clash of powerhouses but it was all Aces in the second half. The reigning champions turned it up in the third quarter where they outscored the Liberty, 27-14, including scoring the first 11 points of the period. The chemistry and familiarity between the Aces were evident as they played in rhythm.
For New York, Stewart had 16 points in a losing effort.
Big-time baller
Last week, A’ja Wilson was named the league’s Western Conference Player of the Week - her 11th career selection. This week, it wouldn’t be farfetched to say that she’s one of the nominees again to gain the weekly plum. After dropping 28 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Indiana on Sunday, she had an encore performance of 24 points, 10 boards, three assists, three steals, and three blocks in her second meeting versus the Fever in three days.
But the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year didn’t stop there. After putting up 16 points in the marquee battle against the Liberty, she poured in 23 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists in another titanic matchup against the Connecticut Sun.
Team in the spotlight
The 2023 Aces are a prime example of a team that’s brimming with confidence after having won the title the season before. They have a formula for winning and they know they’re practically unstoppable when they impose their style.
Las Vegas continues to pace the league with a 15-1 record. The defending champs have won eight straight games including a pair of hard-earned victories over fellow contenders Liberty and Sun. The dismantling of the Liberty was noteworthy because as mentioned, it was the first meeting between the new superteams. But the rout against the Sun in their next game was just as impressive since they were able to win over the same team that handed them their lone loss of the season so far.
The Aces are currently leading the league in points (93.7), field goal percentage (50.3), and blocks (5.4), while being second in assists (23.8), and points allowed (78.1).
Watch out for…
The WNBA recently announced the reserves for its annual All-Star Game. The 12-woman list is headlined by the Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas and Washington Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne.
What you need to watch out for is the All-Star team selection that’s going to happen by the end of the week. Captains Wilson of the Aces and Stewart of the Liberty, who received the most fan votes, will select their team.
The All-Star Game is slated for the week after on July 16 at 8:30 AM (Manila time).
