Las Vegas Aces start their preseason adventure soon. They play their first game against Dallas Wings on May 2nd before concluding preseason against Phoenix Mercury on May 6th. These games are vital ahead of the WNBA season which begins on May 16th. Becky Hammon’s side will tip off their season against Phoenix Mercury on May 17th. The new season is vital as they want to improve on last season. The Las Vegas Aces finished fourth in the standing before getting knocked out in the semi-final of the playoffs against the New York Liberty. Let’s explore why they need to have a great preseason.
Las Vegas Aces Have An Important Preseason
A’ja Wilson Needs To Get Up To Speed
A’ja Wilson was one of the talking points of the WNBA season last year. Last season she became the first player in the league to score 1,000 points in the regular season. The 28-year-old also had astonishing numbers when she averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in the best season of her career. This preseason is crucial for her as she did not play in this year’s inaugural Unrivaled League. This may not be ideal for her as she player may start the season fairly rusty. Teams like Phoenix Mercury won’t have this issue as their star players played in Unrivaled. She isn’t the only big-name player who didn’t feature in the competition as Caitlin Clark, Chennedy Carter, and Kamila Cardoso didn’t play. Clark’s case is unique as they did not have a break from college basketball until the Olympics. This would be a setback for the competition as they thought the 30 best players in the league would be involved.
Las Vegas Aces Underwhelmed Last Season
Becky Hammon will be disappointed with how 2024 went as they were on the verge of three peating. They would have been the first team in the league’s history to have won a championship three times in a row. Winning a third championship in a row was always a tall order as teams had extra motivation to beat them. Hammon needs this preseason to see what she can do differently next season. Hammon won’t be concerned about the player’s rustiness as most of her starting five played in Unrivaled. The legendary coach also requires this preseason to see how Jewell Loyd fits into the team.
Teams Have Improved In The Offseason
This is arguably the most crucial preseason in Becky Hammon’s career. The preseason and early season will be key to see how the addition of Loyd stacks up with other teams and moves around the league. The preseason will be an opportunity to build some chemistry before the season. The Atlanta Dream can use preseason to get new players acclimatized to a new system as well. It will be key for the Aces to prove they are still an elite squad. Conversely, if Dream players like Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner take time to gel their season could be in jeopardy and the Aces could have an advantage.
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