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Aces rebound from historic loss with rout of Valkyries
- Terrel Emerson
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Twenty-six plus hours was more than enough time for the Las Vegas Aces to reflect on their historic 53-point loss.
On the heels of reflecting, the team got back to its winning ways with a, 101-77, win over the Golden State Valkyries Sunday, Aug. 3 from the Michelob Ultra Arena. It was the team’s first win in the second of back-to-backs this season after starting the year 0-2 in such instances.
“One thing I did do was send a message to [the team],” forward A’ja Wilson said. “And just [said] ‘If you weren’t embarrassed from yesterday then don’t come into the gym. You’re not needed or wanted here.’ We need the mindset to shift because that was embarrassing.”
That’s two wins in three meetings against the Valkyries this season with one more contest left to decide. As a result of the victory, the Aces improved their overall record to 15-14 on the year while sliding into the seventh spot in the WNBA’s standings.
Currently, they sit a game ahead of Golden State.
Las Vegas finds itself amidst a stretch where it will play five home games in a six-game span. With two home games already played, it will head back to the road for the final date with the Valkyries.
That game is set for Wednesday, Aug. 6 from Chase Center with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.
“I think there’s some things we’re going to have to do better,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “Obviously, the offensive rebounding. We have to block out better when we go to Golden State.”
After losing the wheel rather early in their 53-point loss, the Aces turned the tables by going up 13 points in the first quarter on Sunday en route to the dominant win. Las Vegas would eventually go up by 25 points in the first half and 28 before the final buzzer.
“I’ll give us an A+ in the first half [on defense],” Hammon said. “And a D in the second half.”
Reserve guard Jewell Loyd had her best night with her new team, beginning with a 13-point first half. Late in the second quarter, she was hit in the face with a shoulder bump by Golden State’s Janelle Salåun, who would be assessed the flagrant two before being ejected from the game.
“She’s a rookie, right?” Loyd asked. “Yeah. I was always taught by [Phoenix great Diana Taurasi] don’t poke the bear. You get frustrated, everyone kind of goes through it but – it’s interesting, you hit someone and walk the other way.”
Loyd would stay hot in the second half, erupting for 21 more points and a host of three-pointers. She’d end the night with a season-high 27 points including a 7-of-9 mark from deep. It marks her sixth career game with at least 25 points and seven made threes, which is the second-most in league history.
By the final buzzer, Loyd racked up a plus/minus of +36.
“When the ball moves the way it does, it has energy,” she said. “You just try to be in the right spot. We were just playing with such a lightness today and we were just moving the ball.”
Guard Jackie Young added 20 points from her starting role while teammate Chelsea Gray was the final guard in double-figures with 11 points.
“About damn time they come to work,” Wilson said. “Those are my guards and I love them to death. I know it’s not easy doing what they do and playing on both sides of the basketball but it is about damn time for something to click for them because I see the countless gym hours.”
Wilson recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds including six offensive rebounds as part of a 46-rebound effort by Las Vegas. Eighteen of those 46 rebounds came on the offensive end. She also added four steals to her stat line.
As a team, the Aces shot 46% from the floor and 45% from three-point range with 18 made threes. The 18 made treys are now tied for the second-most in a WNBA game in league history.
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