Las Vegas Aces Suffer Humiliating Defeat Against Indiana Fever
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon expressed her frustration after her team’s 81-54 loss to the Indiana Fever on Thursday night, calling the performance “one of the worst games I’ve seen.” The Fever, who were coming off a win against the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup final, broke a 16-game losing streak against the Aces, dating back to 2019. Indiana played without Caitlin Clark (groin injury) for the fourth consecutive game, but their offense, led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 25 points, remained strong. The situation was completely different for Las Vegas, which had a poor shooting percentage of 26.2%. A’ja Wilson was the only Aces player to score in double figures with 29 points; the next scorer was Jackie Young with six points. Wilson hit 9 of 18 field goals, while the rest of the Aces combined for 7 of 43.Hammon also criticized the Aces’ defense, which has been a concern all season. She pointed out the large number of layups allowed by the team.“It’s a total lack of professionalism to come here with that effort,” Hammon said about the Aces, who with an 8-9 record are in fifth place in the Western Conference.
Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces Coach
A’ja Wilson, the league’s reigning MVP, acknowledged the Aces’ defensive inconsistency.“They were in the paint getting boards all night. I really don’t have answers for you. The effort and focus just wasn’t there,” Hammon added.
Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces Coach
The Aces won the WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023, Hammon’s first two seasons in Las Vegas. Last season, they reached the semifinals, where they lost to the New York, eventual WNBA champions. But this season has been a roller coaster. Six of the Aces’ nine losses this season have been by double digits, including a 27-point loss to the Golden State Valkyries on June 7 and a 20-point loss to the Seattle Storm on May 25. Hammon was asked what the Aces can do to improve their consistency.“The offense will have ups and downs. That’s part of the game. But the defense has to be something we really understand and delve into to do it. Our defense has to be ten times better,” Wilson stated.
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces Player
The coach concluded by saying that the team needs to play with more intensity and effort to get better results in the season.“Maybe we have to shake something up, shake up the starting lineup. It’s really hard to know as a coach what team you’re going to have on a given night. If I knew what buttons to push to ensure our effort was right every night, I’d be pushing those buttons,” Hammon said.
Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces Coach
