The 2 prime scorers within the WNBA will go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon when the Las Vegas Aces host the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
Minnesota (23-5) is coming off an emotional 100-93 house win Wednesday towards the New York Liberty in a rematch of final yr’s WNBA Finals. Napheesa Collier scored 30 towards the Liberty and leads the league with 23.8 factors per recreation.
“Individuals ask me how she has improved and early in her profession, it was the paint — the paint was her spot,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned after Collier’s fifth 30-point recreation of the season.
“Now she is doing a lot extra work outdoors the paint, she is enjoying from the skin and scoring, scoring threes, and scoring on the transfer. For those who take one thing away, she’s going to do one thing else.”
Minnesota has the No. 1 scoring protection within the WNBA, permitting 76.0 factors per recreation, and is second in factors scored at 86.4.
The win over New York was arguably Minnesota’s largest of the season. It was their first assembly because the Liberty downed the Lynx in 5 video games to win the 2024 title.
“It felt like a Finals recreation,” Reeve mentioned. “It was paying homage to Sport 3 and Sport 4 right here. The followers have been excited, and I believed they have been handled to a heck of a ball recreation.”
Three-time MVP A’ja Wilson ranks second within the league with 22.1 factors per recreation for the Aces (14-13). Las Vegas has received 5 of its final seven after going by some turmoil earlier this season, adjusting to a brand new lineup after buying and selling Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks in February.
Aces coach Becky Hammon has just lately shifted Jewell Loyd, whom the Aces obtained within the Plum commerce, to a sparkplug position off the bench.
“I feel it has helped us throughout the board,” Wilson mentioned of the brand new lineup. “After they speak about our schemes flowing and the way in which we will get, it sparks (us) having Jewell come off the bench. It looks as if it is a wholesome steadiness for us.”
Las Vegas nonetheless goes as Wilson goes. The seven-time All-Star had 34 factors within the Aces’ win Tuesday over the Sparks. Jackie Younger added her first triple-double with 18 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Minnesota dominated the primary two conferences with the Aces, successful 76-62 on June 17 and setting a season excessive for factors in a 109-78 win on July 25.
–Area Degree Media