The Las Vegas Aces are on historic pace heading into the second half of the season and have shown no signs of letting up.
With 19 wins in their first 21 games, the Aces sit atop the WNBA standings and have the best offense and defense in the league.
«Just staying focused on what we’ve been doing up to this point,» guard Chelsea Gray said. «Trust each other, play for each other and each other and just have fun doing it. We never take anyone for granted.»
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Las Vegas Aces Aja Wilson of Team Wilson celebrates after making a 3-point shot against Team Stewart during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Las Vegas . (AP Photo/John Locher)
Gray, one of four Las Vegas players in the All-Star Game over the weekend, said that despite the Aces’ record, the WNBA is much more competitive than it has been in recent years.
«This league is very good and there is a lot of parity between the teams,» he said. «There’s not a lot that’s on top. So you have to come up with your best game every night.»
Las Vegas is looking to become the first repeat champion since Los Angeles in 2001 and 2002. Heading into the playoffs, the Aces can post the best record in league history: Phoenix’s 29-5 mark in 2014.
«We’re all so competitive that we challenge each other every day,» Aces guard Kelsey Plum said. «There is no truce in this team.»
New York and Connecticut rank second and third, respectively, in the ranking. The Liberty are still trying to put together a full 40-minute effort with a revamped roster that includes offseason additions Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Courtney Vandersloot.
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Las Vegas Aces Aja Wilson holds up the championship trophy as she celebrates with her teammates after their WNBA basketball final victory against the Connecticut Sun on September 18, 2022, in Uncasville, Conn. The Las Vegas Aces are having a landmark season so far, but anything short of repeating as WNBA champions would be seen as a failure. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
The Liberty have looked great at times and not so great at others. New York blew a 20-point lead on Indiana before the All-Star break, but pulled it out in overtime.
Guard Sabrina Ionescu, who won the 3-point contest over All-Star weekend with an unprecedented performance, said the Liberty are still learning how to «hold the edge.»
«We keep learning how to play nice with each other,» he said. «It’s a big factor in why some of our games end the way they do. But we understand that it’s happened too many times, and we have to look inward and continue to build that chemistry. I think we will.»
Connecticut has tried to find ways to replace center Brionna Jones, who tore her right Achilles tendon last month and is out for the season. The Sun, who lost to the Aces in last year’s WNBA Finals, have relied even more on stars Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.
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New York Libertys’ Sabrina Ionescu of Team Stewart drives against Las Vegas Aces Team Wilson’s Aja Wilson during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
«We’re still trying to figure it out. We lost a big piece in the middle. We’re figuring it out day by day, but it’s been a lot of fun,» Bonner said. «We just have to lean on each other a little more. Everyone has to pick up the slack.»
Here are some other things to look for in the second half of the season:
LONG WAY TO THE TOP
The Phoenix Mercury had big aspirations going into the season when they welcomed Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia in 2022 and released in a high-stakes prisoner exchange. Griner has put up career numbers, but the Mercury has the second-worst record in the league at 4-15. The All-Star center had a simple recipe for Phoenix in the second half of the season: «Get more doubles!»
UP-AND-COMERS
The Atlanta Dream went on a six-game winning streak at the All-Star break. The Dream is on pace to make the playoffs for the first time since 2018, led by All-Stars Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Cheyenne Parker.
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Minnesota Lynxs Napheesa Collier of Team Stewart drives to the basket against Team Wilson during the second half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
GETTING HEALTHY
The All-Star break couldn’t have come at a better time for Los Angeles and Washington, both of which were decimated by injuries in the first half. The Sparks, who have lost six straight games, only had two players in each game in the first part of the year and hope to have everyone healthy soon. Washington went through its own injury woes with Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud, Kristi Toliver and Ariel Atkins all without timeouts.