After a loss like the 95-68 drubbing the Las Vegas Aces suffered at the hands of the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday, some uncomfortable conversations will have to be had.
The Aces lost control of the game in the second quarter as Golden State outscored them 34-15 in the frame. The Valkyries took a 21-point lead into the break and led by as many as 29 points during the second half en route to just their third win in franchise history. The 27-point loss was the Aces’ largest defeat since a 38-point loss to the New York Liberty in August 2023, a game in which A’ja Wilson was held to just nine points on 2-of-14 shooting.
Wilson was only slightly more effective on Saturday, scoring 17 points on an inefficient 5-of-13 from the field. Wilson has now been held under 20 points for the fourth time in the Aces’ last five games, which is already more than the three times she was held under 20 points during the 2024 regular season. It’s also the first time Wilson has scored less than 20 points four times in five games since May 2022.
The fault for the Aces' horrific performance on Saturday only lands partially on Wilson, however. Jackie Young was held to eight points on an abysmal 1-of-6 from the field, while Jewell Loyd was held to six points on 1-of-8 shooting. Loyd has reached double figures in scoring in just three of the Aces’ seven games thus far. Chelsea Gray added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, but tallied just one assist.
Saturday’s loss was also the Aces’ first meeting with former assistant Natalie Nakase after Nakase was hired to be the first coach in Golden State Valkyries history this offseason. It’s possible that it was Nakase’s familiarity with Vegas’ offense that caused some of the discomfort today, but even that feels like somewhat of a grasp at straws when you consider how the Aces performed in their previous two losses this season.
One thing for certain is that the teacher, Becky Hammon, was thoroughly outcoached by the student Nakase on Saturday. With an effort as discouraging as Saturday’s and the Aces now approaching what appears to be a second disappointing season in a row, perhaps some questions also need to shift Hammon’s ability to get the best out this group in it’s current iteration.
"Effort has to come from your heart," Hammon said. "You know the schemes, the discipline, the habits. That's your head. Right now, we not only have a heart issue but we're letting it effect our head issue. I'm not going to coach effort. It's just one thing I can't deal with. You're in you're in charge of your effort."
Las Vegas will get an opportunity to redeem itself on Wednesday in front of the home crowd, as Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks are coming to town for the second time in as many weeks. The Aces beat Los Angeles 96-81 in their first meeting this season.