Winning ways continue as Las Vegas 20 pieces Phoenix

MVP candidates for both Las Vegas and Phoenix battle down low inside the Michelob Ultra Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Entering Thursday in a three-way tie for the third spot in the WNBA’s standings, the Las Vegas Aces took matters into their own hands with a big statement win over one of the league’s top teams.

Las Vegas beat fellow third-place team Phoenix, 83-61, Thursday, Aug. 21 from the Michelob Ultra Arena. The victory gives the Aces the regular season series win over the Mercury, three wins to one.

“There comes a certain point where you’ve just got to know what you know,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “My belief in them has never wavered. Like I’ve said, our locker room. It would’ve been very easy to fall apart in June when things were not going well.”

A season-long win streak for Las Vegas is up to nine games as the team’s overall record ticks up to 23-14 on the year. Thursday also marked the end of a three-game homestand for the former back-to-back league champions ahead of a three-game road trip for the group.

That stretch will begin with a Saturday, Aug. 23 meeting with the Washington Mystics with tip-off set for 12 p.m.

It was a strong defensive performance by the Aces in their last outing to help secure the lopsided victory. As a team, the unit held the Mercury to 31% shooting from the field and just 18% from three-point range.

Aces forward Kiah Stokes guards the perimeter against the Mercury during the team's 22-point win. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“We become a very dangerous group when we play defense like that,” Hammon said. “We have a lot of experience, we have a lot of trust out there. Because there are some things that we do that is really blind trust.”

Moreover, a fast start by Phoenix forward Alyssa Thomas to the tune of seven points and six rebounds in the opening quarter helped provide support for the visitors. By the fourth quarter, the aggressive Las Vegas offense put the MVP candidate in foul trouble with five at one point in the fourth quarter.

Outside of Thomas, the Aces’ defense was locked in which allowed the team to build a 15-point lead before halftime and ultimately, a 22-point lead before the final buzzer.

Additionally, Las Vegas forced Phoenix into 14 turnovers which turned into 21 points on the other end for the home team. Conversely, the Aces committed just six turnovers in the win while negating their opponent from turning any of them into points on the other side of the floor.

Las Vegas guard Dana Evans smiles during a postgame interview after the team's home win over Phoenix. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Forward A’ja Wilson continued her tear through the league with another double-double. She recorded 19 points and 13 rebounds while compiling an assist, steal and a block.

Wilson was one of four starters to reach double-digit scoring including guards Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young along with forward NaLyssa Smith, who all chipped in with 12 points apiece.

“We have a lot of solid pieces,” Hammon said. “Pieces that can hurt you in different ways. Let [guard Jewell Loyd] see a couple go through, that’s gone be a problem.”

Reserve guard Dana Evans tallied 17 points in just 19 minutes on a very sharp 7-for-9 shooting night. She also accounted for a game-high +22.

“She probably gets tired of me yelling at her,” Hammon said. “‘Rim!’ ‘Attack!’ I want her aggressive constantly, she’s huge for us. When she has nights like this, I think we’re really hard to beat.”