The Las Vegas Aces suffered a devastating comeback loss to the Washington Mystics, falling 100-99 at the CareFirst Arena on Wednesday, a game they had seemingly in the bag before blowing a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter.
The Aces, who had completed their schedule before the All-Star break, were unable to hold on to their advantage despite a strong performance from their star players. A'ja Wilson led the team with 38 points, while Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray added 24 and 19 points respectively. However, the team's lack of depth was exposed as the Mystics attacked with a committee of players, including All-Star snub Shakira Austin, who scored a team-high 25 points, including the game-winning layup.
The Mystics' depth was on full display as six players scored in double digits, with Austin and All-Star Sonia Citron contributing heavily with 25 and 20 points respectively. The team's focus on defense was evident in their postgame comments, with Cheyenne Parker-Tyus stating, “Our focus as a team is to get better every day, especially on defense. We need to make sure we go back and watch how we had a couple lapses defensively and see how we can get better for the next part of this season.”
The Aces' struggles on the glass were a major factor in their loss, as they were outrebounded 34-24 and allowed the Mystics 12 offensive rebounds. This gave the younger team more opportunities with the ball and ultimately led to their upset victory. As Aces head coach Becky Hammon pointed out, “When we don’t defend, we lose. Giving up 100 points, a 29-point fourth quarter, we’re not going to win those games. We’re 0-3 when we do that.”
Despite the loss, the Aces remain confident in their ability to bounce back. As Brianna Turner stated, “As great as our basketball players are, they’re just as great humans, so that’s really cool to be around. They just hold such a high standard, hold everyone to such a high standard.”
The Aces will look to regroup and refocus during the All-Star break, hoping to return to their winning ways when they take on the next opponent in their schedule.
Source: Yahoo Sports