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In a marquee matchup that’s been circled on most fans' calendars since the offseason, Las Vegas throttled New York in the first of four scheduled regular season meetings.
With both teams sporting combined 23-4 overall records coming in, the Aces thumped the Liberty, 98-81, from the Michelob Ultra Arena. The win extends Las Vegas’ win streak to seven games while halting New York’s at four games in addition to improve to 14-1 overall.
“I think it’s too early in the season for that,” forward Candace Parker said of calling this game a “statement” win. “For us, it’s just getting better every single game. I think we had spurts where we were really, really good defensively and I think that’s the side of the ball that can make things easier on the other end.”
Sitting at 14-1, the Aces are now the third team in WNBA history with 14 wins through the first 15 games of the season, joining the 1998 Houston Comets and 2016 Los Angeles Sparks. Both Houston and Los Angeles went on to win the championship in those respective years.
Additionally, Las Vegas has a +232 point differential through the first 15 games of the year which is the most in WNBA history followed by the aforementioned ‘98 Houston and ‘16 LA teams.
The remaining three games between these two clubs will take place in August. For now, the Aces will continue their five-game homestand when they host the Connecticut Sun, who are responsible for the team’s lone loss of the year.
“We’re happy we won tonight but we know we have another big one on Saturday,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “[The team] should all go out, have a glass of wine and then we’ll get back to work tomorrow.”
Tip-off is slated for 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 1 from the Michelob Ultra Arena.
Las Vegas and New York started out similar to a heavyweight fight with both teams throwing big blows early. The Aces raced out to a 7-0 run to break a tie at four before being answered by an 8-2 run by the Liberty to get back into the game.
New York forward Breanna Stewart scorched the Las Vegas defense for 10 points in the first quarter. Stewart, in addition to Aces forward A’ja Wilson, will serve as this year’s captains for the league’s All-Star Game.
Matching Stewart’s start and even going beyond, guard Kelsey Plum scored 13 of her team-high 18 points in the first quarter while recording a season-high eight assists.
As a team, Las Vegas recorded a season-high 32 assists on 40 made field goals on the night.
“I think it’s dangerous,” Parker said. “In terms of the way we can play and the way we can play in the halfcourt then also in the secondary and in transition. I think it’s great, we have people like KP who run and cut and open up and draw and dish so it’s important for us to continue to share the ball.
“What, 32 assists tonight on 40 field goals? That says a lot about us and the way that we play.”
Those 32 assists were rivaled by just eight turnovers for the home team.
The game changed as the defense tightened up for the Aces in the second quarter on, building a lead as large as 13 points. Things were blown open with an 11-0 start to the third quarter for Las Vegas to extend a seven-point halftime lead to 18.
“We felt like, defensively we had some miscues in transition,” Plum said. “They’re a team that can see the ball go in and then they start raining threes and all of a sudden, it’s a single-digit game.”
Before the final buzzer, the Aces would lead by 27 points while never allowing the Liberty to hold a lead.
“The media makes it out to be this crazy matchup,” Plum said. “There’s a lot of really good teams in this league. [New York is] a really good team, DC is excellent so is Connecticut – I can go down the line.”
Stewart would be held to just six points the remainder of the game after her 10-point start. In addition, Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu and forward Betnijah Laney were held to seven and three points respectively.
Las Vegas starters combined to score 78 of the team’s 98 points, going 31-for-54 from the field (57%) with all five players scoring in double-figures.
Wilson was the last starter into double-figures but finished with 16 points, three rebounds and three assists. For the second time this season, she went without recording a steal or a block.
Parker and guard Jackie Young both turned in 15 points apiece with the former tallying five assists versus six for the latter. Moreover, Parker and Young combined to shoot 6-of-10 from three-point range with Young cashing one in the third quarter to extend the lead to 22 points.
Guard Chelsea Gray rounded out the field with 14 points coupled with six assists. She has now recorded six or more assists in 10 of the team’s 15 games this season.
“Just a real solid 40 minutes for us,” Hammon said. “From the jump, we came out locked in, assertive on the defensive end and then they know what to do on the offensive end.”
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