The Las Vegas Aces have one of the best records in the WNBA, but after four weeks of play they have yet to win a game at home.
A quirk in the schedule has the Aces (6-3) playing just their third home game when they meet the Golden State Valkyries (6-4) on Saturday afternoon.
Las Vegas went 2-1 on a six-day road trip that ended with a 79-69 road victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. The Aces were short-handed in the backcourt and head coach Becky Hammon experimented with a lineup that had four-time MVP A’ja Wilson moving from her post position to a wing spot.
The Aces didn’t practice the lineup before Hammon told Wilson: “I’m putting you in at the three.”
“I was nervous,” Wilson said. “I’m not going to lie because I don’t practice the three. I just went out there and did it.”
Wilson responded with 25 points, 15 rebounds and a season-high five blocks as Jewell Loyd and Chennedy Carter joined Dana Evans on the sideline as all three are dealing with left leg injuries. Evans has not played this season.
Loyd and Carter are listed as day-to-day so Hammon might need Wilson at the guard/forward hybrid position again Saturday.
“I actually liked the big guard A’ja at the three lineup,” Hammon said.
A big lineup could be problematic for the Valkyries, who are having rebounding issues of late. They were outrebounded 43-31 in an 87-84 loss at Minnesota on Thursday. The Lynx had a 14-9 edge in offensive rebounds.
“We can’t give anyone 14 extra possessions,” Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase said.
Rebounding was also an issue for the Valkries in a 91-81 home loss to the Aces on Sunday. Las Vegas had a 45-33 edge on the boards, including a 12-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
“It was the same thing with Vegas — they outrebounded us,” Nakase said. “So we’ve got to make sure we get more possessions no matter who we play. That’s got to be part of it. We’ve got to make sure we own the boards.”
Wilson has 8.9 rebounds per game for the Aces, who are second in the WNBA in rebounds per game (37.3), while the Valkyries rank seventh (33.5).
–Field Level Media
