The two best teams in the WNBA are set to square off tonight in Las Vegas.
This past weekend was a sports lover’s dream. The MLB is approaching the summer months of its regular season. The NBA Eastern Conference Finals went to a decisive Game 7. A winner was crowned at the UEFA Champions League Final.
The WNBA was home to some great excitement over the last couple of days as well.
With the first three weeks of the league’s 25th anniversary season in the books, the standings are starting to take shape as the calendar turns to June. Seven of the WNBA’s 12 teams have winning records.
That includes the league’s top two squads—the Connecticut Sun and Las Vegas Aces.
Sun hold serve in Eastern Conference
After finishing last season with the best record in the WNBA (26-6), the Connecticut Sun have picked up right where they left off. The team holds a record of six wins and two losses.
Connecticut had four players score in double figures in its most recent game on Saturday against the Washington Mystics. That helped propel the team to a 79-71 home victory.
Sun Head Coach Curt Miller has his team ranked in the league’s top five in offensive and defensive ratings. His team also averages about 86 points per game—good for second best in the league (only behind Las Vegas).
One reason the team is off to another great start is due to their abundance of experience. The average age of the roster is 27 years old, when most players reach the prime of their careers.
Forward Alyssa Thomas is having her best year. In her ninth season, Thomas is averaging 16 points, two assists, and eight rebounds per contest.
Despite the individual success, Thomas discussed how important it was for the team to improve their defensive rebounding. In their win on Saturday against Washington, the Sun secured 41 total rebounds, 10 of which were grabbed by Thomas.
“I think rebounding (has) always been our identity… (That’s) definitely one of the things we want to pick up,” Thomas said after the victory. “It’s been a huge emphasis for us.”
Jonquel Jones and DeWanna Bonner also continue to be major factors for Connecticut.
Despite averaging her lowest scoring numbers in three years, Jones is still averaging 14 points per game and shooting a career-high 85% from the charity stripe.
At 34 years of age, Bonner is tallying about 14 points and two assists per game. She has averaged double-digit scoring in all 13 seasons of her career.
Las Vegas on a mission
The Las Vegas Aces hold the best overall record in the WNBA at 8-1. Las Vegas has won six games in a row and defeated the reigning champion Chicago Sky on the road this past Saturday, 83-76.
Las Vegas is also the only team to average at least 90 points per contest this season. But Guard Chelsea Gray discussed the importance of the team’s defense in their seven-point victory in the Windy City.
“We didn’t shoot the greatest percentage from beyond the arc (20%),” Gray said. “(But) defensively, we were engaged and on point.”
First-year Head Coach Becky Hammon further emphasized how building strong habits on defense will help the team on the other side of the ball.
“When we play defense, we can be elite because then we can run and get out (in transition) with space,” Hammon said after Saturday’s game. “We’ve got some girls (who) can really shoot it and some girls (who) can really get downhill. It gives you a lot of options (offensively) and you’re not going up against a set defense the whole time.”
What makes this Las Vegas team dangerous is their ability to push the ball up the court. The Aces rank second in the league in overall pace, a major reason why they average 92 points per game.
Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum both average 18 points on the season. They also are able to dish the ball out to teammates on a consistent basis, with each of them combining for around 10 assists a night.
Along with the dynamic duo of Young and Plum include Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, and three-time all-star A’ja Wilson. With all these players averaging double-digits in scoring, it is clear to see why Las Vegas is a threat to anyone who comes in their path.
Sun vs. Aces preview
Tonight’s contest between the Sun and Aces will be must-see TV. The offensive firepower each team brings to the table means fans should expect an old-fashioned shootout.
Jonquel Jones and Alyssa Thomas will need to dominate on the boards for Connecticut. It also will be important for Connecticut’s guards to push the pace in order to keep up with Las Vegas’s league-leading offense.
Becky Hammon must emphasize the importance of the transition game for her team as they look to bounce back from an uncharacteristic shooting performance. In their last game against Chicago, the Aces shot just 4-20 from downtown.
The game is set to be played at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. Connecticut looks to improve on its 2-1 road record while the Aces try to stay undefeated on their home court (5-0).
Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST. The two teams will meet again in Las Vegas on Thursday.
