The Las Vegas Aces come to Minneapolis to face the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday for their first road game of the season. So far, the Aces have had three relatively close games and one blowout win. Their third game, a rematch with Phoenix, handed the Aces their first loss of the young season after beating them in their season opener. In between, the Sparks kept it close, losing only by seven points.
The blowout was against Indiana, a game in which A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum all scored 20+ points, and Kate Martin, who arguably has been the steal of the draft, scored 12. The Aces have been without Chelsea Gray from Day 1 and promptly waived Dyaisha Fair after the Indiana game.
Minnesota Lynx’s Path Thus Far This Season
The Minnesota Lynx have started the season with a pair of games against Seattle, winning the second at home in double overtime, and then losing by one to the Connecticut Sun, also an overtime game. Then the Lynx came home and promptly handed the New York Liberty a resounding defeat, followed by a turnaround in Atlanta. Newcomers Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams, and Natisha Hiedeman have had an immediate impact.
back home. back to work. pic.twitter.com/fqMm7CuiPu
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) May 28, 2024
Diamond Miller has been out since the Connecticut game and will remain out indefinitely. Fortunately, this coincided with the return of Dorka Juhász and Sika Koné as well as Cecilia Zandalasini. Save their one-point loss to the Sun, the Lynx so far have shown themselves to be a revitalized, determined, and a far more defensively proficient team than we’ve seen for a while.
The chemistry has been palpable since Day 1, as has a sense of enjoyment amongst the players, which has made them incredibly fun to watch. Napheesa Collier has proven herself to be a legitimate MVP candidate, and the team as a whole is just a damn good basketball team.
The Lynx and Its Defense Could Factor In Versus The Aces
So what can we expect from the meeting between the Aces and the Lynx? In the past, the Aces have had an intimidation factor simply because of their collective caliber as a team. Whether or not the absence of Gray is a major factor this season is difficult to determine, but Las Vegas has had to earn their wins for the most part, rather than steamroll over their opponents.
The defensive prowess of the Lynx will certainly be something that coach Becky Hammon will focus on, and the Lynx will have to contain Wilson, Young, and Plum as well. To me, Jackie Young is really the standout player for the Aces. It’s a tired cliché, but she really does have ice in her veins, and always impresses with her unshakable drive.
Final Thoughts
The Aces tend to play as individuals; the Lynx play as a team. It is a difference measured by degrees, but it is a meaningful difference. Both teams can score, a lot. The Aces do not commit a lot of turnovers. The Lynx have begun to lower the number of turnovers, but against a high-powered team like the Aces, taking care of the ball has to be a priority. The team effort has not been a problem so far for the Lynx, nor for the Aces, but the Aces will need to focus more on a unified effort if they are going to walk away with a win.
Playing against Las Vegas is still probably the biggest obstacle any team in the league can face. Are the Lynx up to the task? No question. Are the Lynx a gimme for the Aces?
Not this season. This could prove to be one of the most important games of the season for both teams. The Minnesota Lynx have already taken down one of last year’s “super teams.” Can they do it again? The Lynx have so far shown that they are a legitimate contender and not pretenders to the throne. This is a can’t-miss game.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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