Two of the hottest teams in the WNBA will face off when the Atlanta Dream play at the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday in a matchup with playoff significance.
As the regular season winds down, Atlanta (22-12) is currently in second in the WNBA seeding race, mathematically unable to catch top-seed Minnesota, but trying to hold off a crowded field coming up from behind.
Las Vegas (21-14) is riding a seven-game winning streak and is currently tied for fourth, a game-and-a-half behind Atlanta.
The Dream have won seven of their last eight games and are coming off a 79-63 win at Golden State on Sunday. After a sluggish 25-point first half effort, the Dream dropped 54 second-half points to claim the win.
A balanced effort was led by 14 points from Rhyne Howard, who also had six assists and five rebounds. Allisha Gray tallied 13 points despite shooting just 3-for-13 and Brionna Jones notched 13 points and nine rebounds. Naz Hillmon added 12 points and Te-Hina Paopao dropped in 10 points off the bench.
“I think we have to play defense like we did today, but I think we’re a real contender to win (the championship),” said Dream coach Karl Smesko. “Anything can happen and we’re definitely trying to position ourselves to give us the best chance to win the whole thing.”
The Aces tied a season-high for scoring in a 106-87 victory at Dallas on Sunday. The team hit 18-of-34 3-point attempts in the win and A’ja Wilson buffeted her MVP candidacy with 34 points and eight rebounds to lead the effort. Kierstan Bell sank 6-for-7 3-point attempts for her 18 points, while post starter NaLyssa Smith added 14 points. Jewell Loyd contributed 12 points off the bench (with 4-for-8 3-point shooting) and point guard Chelsea Gray had 10 points and tied a career mark with 14 assists.
“We’ve been passing more and it’s translated to more wins,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon. “It’s translated to more assists when we play the right way…. We know at the end of the day, everybody will eat.”
Las Vegas won the first meeting of these teams 87-72 on July 22nd, and the two will meet again on August 27th in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
