Aces concerns continue

The Las Vegas Aces lost a close game to the Washington Mystics 70-68 on Thursday night.  As a result of the absence of reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas struggled offensively. Jewell Loyd led the team with 20 points while Chelsea Gray added 13 points for Las Vegas.

The Washington Mystics were led by Brittney Sykes with 18 points, Kiki Iriafen with 12 points and eight rebounds, and Shakira Austin with 16 points and eight rebounds.  Washington trailed 66-58 with 3:45 remaining. Austin grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back with 39.8 seconds left to play.

This gave Washington its first lead, 69-68, since 15-13 in the first quarter. Las Vegas had three chances to take the lead at the other end but came up empty.

A free throw by Sykes gave the team a two-point lead with 4.3 seconds left.  After a timeout to advance to midcourt, Jackie Young took an inbounds pass at the top of the key. She drove into the lane to attempt a layup. However, Austin provided some defensive help under the basket and the ball rolled off the rim.

The Mystics won their fourth straight home game tonight. The absence of A'ja Wilson clearly impacted Las Vegas' offensive capabilities, as they struggled to find their rhythm and relied heavily on Loyd and Gray. Without Wilson's dominant presence and scoring ability, the team faced challenges in maintaining their lead during crucial moments. This game highlighted the importance of Wilson's role in the lineup and the adjustments Las Vegas needs to make in her absence.