Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon went off on her group’s efficiency in Thursday night time’s 81-54 loss to the Indiana Fever, calling it “one of many worst video games I’ve ever seen.”
The Fever, coming off a victory Tuesday over Minnesota within the Commissioner’s Cup remaining, broke a 16-game dropping streak in opposition to the Aces that dated again to 2019. Indiana was with out guard Caitlin Clark (groin harm) for the fourth consecutive recreation, however its offense, led by Kelsey Mitchell’s 25 factors, was nonetheless sharp.
It was the alternative for Las Vegas, which shot 26.2% from the sector. A’ja Wilson was the one Aces participant to attain in double figures with 29 factors; their next-highest scorer was Jackie Younger with six factors. Wilson was 9-of-18 from the sector, however the remainder of the Aces had been a mixed 7-of-43.
“That is an entire lack of professionalism to return right here with that effort,” Hammon stated of the Aces, who at 8-9 are fifth within the Western Convention. “They performed higher yesterday in follow by so much. I do not know the way you step onto the ground with 20,000 folks within the stands and carry out like that. It’s the worst offensive night time I’ve ever seen [since] I have been right here within the final 4 years.”
Hammon wasn’t any happier with the Aces’ protection, which has been a priority all season. Requested what was most problematic, Hammon cited the abundance of layups the group allowed.
“They had been within the paint [getting] downhill layups all night time,” Hammon stated. “I do not actually have any solutions for you. The hassle and the main target simply weren’t there. I believed they had been grabbing and holding us, so it is a rugby match. My group would not need to play rugby, so we get our ass kicked. There needs to be some battle again if they will enable that form of physicality. My group has to step up and match that physicality, interval.
“One group is fickle, and one group isn’t. One group is three steps behind; one group isn’t. They received all of the 50/50 balls. They busted our ass in each form of method. There’s simply no bones about it. It is one of many worst video games I’ve ever seen.”
Wilson, the reigning league MVP, acknowledged the Aces’ defensive inconsistency.
“Offense goes to be crap right here and there, that is simply a part of the sport,” stated Wilson, who had an ice bag on her proper (non-shooting) shoulder throughout the postgame information convention. “However the protection needs to be one thing we actually have to know and dig deep to do. Our protection needs to be 10 instances higher.
“We’ll return to movie. The gorgeous factor about our league is we now have one other day, one other recreation to attempt to do higher. Some nights we present greatness, typically we present crap. That ain’t what championship groups are. So we have got to get again on observe. We have now to essentially lean on one another now greater than ever. I am not going to let any of my teammates maintain their heads down, as a result of they’re method too good.”
Hammon and the Aces have talked all season about how they’ve been so up and down. On Sunday, the Aces ended the six-game profitable streak of the Phoenix Mercury, who had been the league’s hottest group. Las Vegas scored at the least 80 factors within the 5 video games earlier than Thursday, going 3-2 in these video games.
“If I knew which one was coming, I may put together myself somewhat bit higher,” Hammon stated of her group’s character from recreation to recreation. “We exit to Phoenix. That was the perfect group within the league going into that night time, and we put a strong 4 quarters collectively. Tonight, we put a 3rd quarter collectively and [other than] that, three quarters of trash. The offense was trash, the protection was trash. And sooner or later it’s a must to say that is somewhat extra us, as a result of it is occurred [against] a number of opponents.
“They only needed it greater than us, and I feel that is probably the most disturbing factor, when folks need it greater than you. As a result of that is effort and that is coronary heart.”
The Aces gained WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023, Hammon’s first two seasons in Las Vegas. Final season, they superior to the semifinals, the place they misplaced to eventual WNBA champion New York. However this season has been a curler coaster.
Hammon was requested what the Aces can do to enhance their consistency.
“Perhaps we have got to shake one thing up, shake up the beginning lineup,” Hammon stated. “It is actually arduous to know as a coach what group you are getting on a given night time. If I knew what buttons to push to ensure our effort was acceptable each night time, I would be pushing these buttons.
“It isn’t a button I need to need to push, if I’ve to [start] your engine. You have to come together with your engine began … with the fuel pedal down. We might have gained 5 or 6 extra video games if we simply performed more durable. That is a solution to flit away a season. If we simply tried more durable, we would win extra video games.”