- What: WNBA Regular Season Game
- When: Sunday, July 7
- Who: Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
After a slow start to the season, the Las Vegas Aces seemed poised to make another championship run, but their momentum hit a snag.
The Los Angeles Sparks broke the Aces’ six-game winning streak on Friday.
They must regroup quickly for their Sunday matchup against the struggling Dallas Wings at Michelob Ultra Arena.
This season has been unusual for the Aces, with unexpected losses and injuries affecting their performance.
Dallas Wings
Fortunately for Las Vegas, Dallas is the worst team in the league. The Aces are heavy favorites with a -14.5 points spread, indicating a significant advantage in the game.
After securing back-to-back championships, Las Vegas has already lost more games this season (7) than last season (6).
Despite this, the Aces remain favorites for a three-peat, largely due to A’ja Wilson’s stellar performance, reaffirming her status as the league’s best player.
Midday battle in Vegas.
???? at @LVAces
⏰ 2:30pm CT
???? @espn #VoltUp pic.twitter.com/9Gpd0LJFjd— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) July 7, 2024
Winning by 15 or more points is a substantial challenge, but the Wings have been abysmal this season.
After winning three of their first five games, Dallas lost 11 straight and 14 of their last 16.
Key players Maddy Siegrist (finger) and Satou Sabally (shoulder) are still sidelined, leaving Arike Ogunbowale to shoulder the burden alone.
Dallas ranks second-last in the WNBA in defensive rating (110.9) and likely won’t have an answer for Wilson, who is averaging an impressive 26.9 PPG and 10.9 RPG.
Kelsey Plum (18.9 PPG) and Jackie Young (18.7 PPG) are also expected to capitalize on the Wings’ weak perimeter defense, further strengthening the Aces’ position.
Las Vegas Aces
A month ago, the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings clashed in a highly anticipated Commissioner’s Cup game in Dallas. The Aces emerged victorious with a score of 95-81, a significant win in the context of the Cup.
An intense scoring duel between A’ja Wilson and Arike Ogunbowale marked the game.
Wilson’s impressive 36 points and Ogunbowale’s 31 were crucial in shaping the game’s narrative and the Aces’ eventual triumph.
It’s important to note that Wilson’s stellar performance was complemented by significant support from her teammates, who played a crucial role in securing the Aces’ decisive victory.
The Wings have significant issues defending the paint, ranking last in the WNBA in two-pointers allowed and 11th in two-point field goal percentage.
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???? The House
⌚️ 12:30PM PT
???? @espn #ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/M0qBorUFAk— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) July 7, 2024
They also rank last in defensive rebounds gained and 11th in offensive rebounds allowed.
Wilson, with her potential to exploit these weaknesses in the post, will be a major concern for the Wings in the upcoming game.
In the last matchup in Dallas, Wilson shot 15 of 22 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line, adding 12 rebounds.
Although Natasha Howard’s return will support Teaira McCowan and Monique Billings, it won’t be enough to contain the league’s leading scorer and second-leading rebounder.
The two-time MVP is poised for another dominant performance against the Wings’ struggling post defense and rebounding issues.
Wilson has scored 27 or more points in 13 of her 19 games this season, a record that the Wings should be concerned about.
Their recent defensive struggles have allowed multiple players to reach this figure, and Wilson is likely to add her name to this list once again, lighting up the scoreboard with her impressive performance.
Wings-Aces Best Bet
With Dallas struggling against the spread this season and dealing with significant injuries, they are unlikely to withstand a determined Vegas team eager to bounce back from their loss to L.A.
The best bet is to bet on the Aces to cover the spread at -14.5.
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