Las Vegas Aces Rebound with Victory Over Connecticut Sun
After a defeat that A’ja Wilson called “shameful” against the Indiana Fever, the Las Vegas Aces demonstrated their ability to react with a solid 86-68 victory over the Connecticut Sun, who are currently at the bottom of the table.With this victory, the Aces reach a .500 (9-9) record for the season. On the other hand, the Sun (2-16) extended their losing streak to 10 games, the worst in franchise history. Coach Becky Hammon, after Thursday’s loss against the Fever, criticized her team’s “complete lack of professionalism.” The loss snapped a 16-game winning streak for Las Vegas against Indiana. Hammon was much more satisfied with her team’s effort on Sunday, especially on defense, where the Aces limited the Sun to 38.1% field goal shooting (28.8% from the three-point line).“We were embarrassed against Indiana. We didn’t want to be in that situation again. We got tired of being in that space. In this game, and hopefully in the future, we found joy in the game, especially on defense. We got stops… that’s how we got going and that’s what we need to keep doing,” said Wilson, who led Las Vegas with 19 points.
A’ja Wilson
The Aces, WNBA champions in 2022 and 2023, have had a complicated start to the season in 2025. Currently, they are in eighth place in the league, which would give them the last spot for the playoffs if the season ended today. Hammon noted that part of the difficulties are due to the need to integrate many new players. Las Vegas incorporated All-Star guard Jewell Loyd in a trade that sent Kelsey Plum to Los Angeles. In addition, they revamped their bench and, recently, signed NaLyssa Smith, who debuted as a starter on Sunday and achieved a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds).“Even though we didn’t have a good night in terms of shooting, the defense was there, and that’s what I preach every night. Our defense has to be there every night,” Hammon stated.
Becky Hammon
The Aces will have the opportunity to prove they are still an elite team in the WNBA on Tuesday, when they face the New York Liberty in Brooklyn. New York, currently third in the standings, has dominated Las Vegas in recent years, winning seven of their last eight matchups (including those in the playoffs) since the start of the 2024 season. Hammon expects stars Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young, who played between 20 and 24 minutes on Sunday, to benefit from this rest.“I think people take for granted the number of new players we have, as if we have to teach everything again. It’s completely new… It’s been a process. Every team progresses at a different pace. For now, I’m still teaching, demanding that effort. We are still developing who we are, the identity of this team, but we are getting there, you know, crawling. I’d like to be walking or running by now, but as long as we move in the right direction and see progress, I’m happy with that,” Hammon explained.
Becky Hammon
Hammon and Gray agree that, whether they play against New York or any other team, the Aces always get the best effort from their opponents, even if they are not as dominant as in previous years.“We know that New York is a team with a lot of movement, very physical. We will need a lot of energy on defense, and we hope to be able to play a bit from our defense, which is always good for getting easy points. Their defense is extensive, very active, so we will have to devise a good offensive game plan, but definitely on defense, we need those legs,” said Hammon.
Becky Hammon
“I think people like to beat us. We’ve been very good in this league for the last few years, and people don’t forget that. It’s a compliment that people give their best because they still see you in a certain way, right? They still remember and want to kick your ass,” Hammon concluded.
Becky Hammon
