LAS VEGAS -- The Aces got at least 15 points each from Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd for the first time this season. However, it still wasn’t enough to overcome the visiting Phoenix Mercury on Sunday as Vegas was downed 76-70 amidst A’ja Wilson’s second straight absence (concussion).
Chelsea Gray led the scoring attack with 20 on 8-of-17 shooting, but the point guard recorded just four assists and was thus held below five assists for the eighth time in 10 games this season. Gray recorded 10 rebounds in the loss, her third such performance since making her WNBA debut in 2015 and her first time recording at least 10 rebounds since an 11-board performance against the New York Liberty on 8/17/2022.
Jewell Loyd contributed 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, marking the first time the shooting guard has scored double digits in consecutive games since making her debut with the Aces last month. Jackie Young scored 14 points on an inefficient 4-of-14 from the field in addition to grabbing six rebounds. Kiah Stokes was held scoreless but grabbed 14 rebounds, three shy of her career high (17), which she has reached three times since making her WNBA debut.
"I think collectively, we're just trying to play hard," Loyd said. "That's something we can control in getting extra looks and shots. That's something that we want. We try to work on daggers as much as we can and that's what we want, we want effort. No matter what's going on on the offensive side, the little things that always don't show up in the score box, we want to have that. That's just a mindset for everyone who comes in the game, is that we can win the 50-50 balls, we can win the next possessions."
Kierstan Bell was the lone bright spot for the Aces off the bench, tallying eight points on 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point range. Bell’s performance elicited perhaps the loudest crowd reactions of the night, as her Father’s Day performance in memory of her late parent provided at least one feel-good story for the franchise on Sunday.
"You guys don't get to see her practice much, but a lot of times we'll have her be the opposing team's player for scout," Hammon said. "Sometimes if I just put a fluorescent yellow jersey on her and just give her the green light, she becomes the best player on the floor. It's crazy. She could really light it up. Some of it is opportunity, and maybe matchup somewhat. I put her in at the four today because I just felt like she knew the four better than everybody else. Even though our system is somewhat positionless in some ways, she's going to get more opportunity going forward."
Satou Sabally led the Mercury with 22 points on 6-of-15 shooting, in addition to tallying nine rebounds and three assists. Alyssa Thomas registered 14 points to go with 13 assists, marking the eighth time Thomas has recorded at least 13 assists in a single game during her WNBA career. Sami Whitcomb scored 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting in 23 minutes, carrying the Mercury’s reserves to a 28-14 advantage in bench points overall.
The Mercury made 28-of-73 attempts (38.4 percent) from the field, including 9-of-32 (28.1 percent) from 3-point range. The Aces made 23-of-64 attempts overall (35.9 percent), shooting 9-of-28 (32.1 percent) from beyond the arc.