Offense clicks in rotation switch-up as Aces crack Wings on road

Las Vegas stars A'ja Wilson (#22) and Jewell Loyd (#24) acknowledge each other during the team's blowout win over Dallas Sunday night. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Las Vegas is back to its winning ways in a big showing to end a two-game losing streak. It has now claimed four of its last six contests.

From the College Park Center in Texas, the Aces beat the Dallas Wings, 106-80, Sunday, July 27 in the third game of a four-game road trip. It marked the team’s first win on the trip.

“We’re just trying to string together wins,” guard Jackie Young said. “We know every game is important.”

This season, Las Vegas is 6-9 on the road and 13-13 overall. Sunday also marked the 100th career win in the coaching career of Hammon. As it currently stands, Hammons’ group sits in the seventh spot in the league’s standings.

“My reaction is I’ve been blessed with really good players to coach,” she said. “Not only are they really phenomenal basketball players but they’re phenomenal people. I think I genuinely have great relationships with them.”

The road trip wraps up Tuesday, July 29 from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles against the Sparks. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

“One of the toughest things is going through hard things and remaining optimistic and positive,” Hammon said. “I think it’s really easy to complain and start griping at each other. So my main focus was trying to keep everybody upbeat and ready for the next game.”

Aces guard Jackie Young looks to initiate the offense inside the College Park Center. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Two nights after giving up a season-high 109 points on the defensive end, the Aces pumped out a season-high 106-point outing on the offensive end.

Young got off to a hot start with 14 first quarter points in a four-plus minute span which included four made three-pointers. As a team, Las Vegas knocked down 15 of its 36 attempted threes.

Young hit the 20-point mark with a four-point play in the fourth quarter on her way to a game-high 24 points on 8-of-11 from the field with five made threes. She was also one of three players with at least seven assists while tying for the game-high with eight.

“She was great,” Hammon said. “That’s the expectation for Jackie every night. I need her around 20 [points], I need her getting five to seven assists. Tonight, obviously she went over those numbers which I will take any night.”

In total, the Aces tallied 30 assists.

“Just a good all-around team win,” Hammon said. “Probably the 30 assists might make me the happiest.”

Fellow backcourt running mate Chelsea Gray shared in that game-high lead in dimes with eight assists to accompany her 10 points and six rebounds.

Forward A’ja Wilson packed the stat sheet with 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists coupled with four blocks and two steals.

In just her second career start, forward Kierstan Bell made an immediate impact in a new spotlight. She knocked down the game’s first field goal off a screen from Wilson, scoring on a jumper from near the top of the key. She drilled back-to-back threes in the second quarter on her way to 10 first half points.

Las Vegas forward Kierstan Bell is pictured inside the College Park Center during her career-night which featured 19 points. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“If that wasn’t the definition of ‘Staying ready so you don’t have to get ready’ I don’t know what is,” she said. “I always try to be positive, I’ve been hard on myself this year. But this start and this game gives me confidence.”

Bell closed the night with a career-high 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting with three made treys.

“KB just stayed ready,” Hammon said. “Her minutes have been spotty and I think when I’ve been pretty consistent with her, she’s been consistent with me in performing.”

With the rotation move, guard Jewell Loyd played her first game as a non-starter since 2019 with the Seattle Storm. She scored five straight points in the second quarter to force a timeout. In the third quarter, she connected on back-to-back threes to reach double-figures.

Loyd ended the night with 20 points on 6-of-11 from the field including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc. It’s only her second 20-point game since June 13th and her highest scoring outing since July 20th.

“Jewell just wanted a change of scenery,” Hammon said. “The fact that [Bell and Loyd] excelled in both those roles is obviously very positive for us.”

Both teams opened the game red-hot from the field with Dallas shooting 59% to Las Vegas’ 50%. In total, six players scored in double-figures including starting forward NaLyssa Smith with her 11 points and seven rebounds.

“When someone is being great in their role, we should all celebrate that,” Hammon said. “I saw a lot of smiles. I know you’re not supposed to always do that in professional sports but ‘Fun’ is like a dirty three letter word in sports a lot of times.

“And I think it’s a grossly undervalued trait. Happy players make better players, there’s no doubt about it.”