LAS VEGAS — What a comeback.
After being 11-11 before the All-Star break, the Aces wrapped up their regular-season home schedule with a 92-61 win over the Chicago Sky. Not only does that further their franchise record to 15 wins in a row, but it also means that their post-All-Star run is 18-3 heading into their last game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Chicago struggled shooting 19 of 58 (32.8%) from the field and a harsh low of 18.2% from the 3-point line. Las Vegas used that to their advantage, shooting 34 of 62 (54.8%) from the field and a respectable 51.7% from behind the arc.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
NUMBERS NEVER LIE
It was truly a team effort for the Aces. They made what was a 16-point loss for the Sky on Sunday night into a 31-point annihilation two days later. Six players (Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, A'ja Wilson, NaLyssa Smith) scored in double figures, and all but one put points on the board - a balanced spread for the team’s 92-point tally.
"We're whole for the first time all season, where we look around and every locker is filled, and we're looking like, 'This is our whole team’ - and it's great,” Loyd said. “And so when you look at the stat sheet, we want to play like that, too. The cool thing on this roster is everyone feels valued. Everyone knows they have a role on this team. And we constantly encourage people, probably over-encourage people, to be themselves. And so you look at the score, it's great because, you know, everyone contributed, and that's what everyone wants to do. They want to feel like they helped the team win. And we definitely feel that, you know, a lot of times—and it's really good. Definitely starts with our coach."
PARKER-TYUS PUTTING IN THE WORK
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus was officially activated and available for Tuesday’s game, and the announced crowd of 15,640 made sure she felt the love. In her season debut after being away on maternity leave, Parker-Tyus scored eight points, and received a standing ovation nearly every time her shot fell through the net.
“It felt really good,” Parker-Tyus said. “A lot of feels, a lot of feels. I would just say, honestly, putting my jersey on, being with my teammates, being able to be in those huddles, meant the world today.”
An All-Star in 2023, when she averaged a career high of 15.0 points and 6.7 rebounds, the 11-year veteran averaged a total of 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds during her time with the Sky and Atlanta Dream.
Last season in Atlanta, she averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 25 games.
Now, coach Becky Hammon said she's excited to have her ready for a postseason run, bolstering one of the most talented frontcourts in the WNBA.
“I'm just happy," Hammon said. "So much work. I mean, it's really phenomenal what she's been able to do. I'm like, literally, this woman had a whole human in her a couple months ago. It's been remarkable to watch her work, but also just her presence and her joy coming back and working. And I know it's been a process for her, but I'm just happy. ... She's still working on getting her wind back, but it's pretty remarkable to see her out there, having just given birth a couple months ago.”
JACKIE AND JEWELL
Young had five points and Loyd had six at halftime. By the end of it, they came out as the top scorers of the night, each with 15 points. Their offensive effort helped catapult the double-digit results for the previously mentioned six players.
“Jackie, you know, just has the ball in her hands a lot more,” Hammon said. “She's making great decisions, a lot more pick and roll opportunities this year for her, and she's just proven just to be ultra efficient with it.”
Loyd delivered a shining 71.8% from the 3-point line, one of those being crowned as the assist of the night for the duo. Loyd ended the night becoming the 15th player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points.