The Las Vegas Aces do not have to wait long to find out whether Tuesday night’s formula was sustainable. Two days after beating Washington 86-76 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas gets the Mystics again Thursday at 7 p.m. PT.
The season series is tied 1-1, and the quick rematch gives both teams a chance to attack what worked and what did not. For the Aces, the first lesson is clear: they disrupted Washington enough to force 16 turnovers and turn them into 26 points, but they still lost the rebounding battle 41-30 and allowed 14 offensive rebounds.
That tension should define the rematch.
Disruption worked
Washington arrived Tuesday with one of the league’s strongest rebounding profiles and left with that identity intact. The Mystics finished with 41 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive glass, while scoring 42 points in the paint.
Las Vegas survived because its defense created mistakes before Washington could settle into the half court. Head coach Becky Hammon said afterward that the Aces wanted to make the Mystics’ post entries more difficult and keep them from living on deep catches.
“I thought we were disruptive early in their offense a lot of times,” Hammon said.
That showed up in the turnover margin. Las Vegas committed only eight turnovers while forcing twice as many, giving the Aces extra possessions to offset Washington’s work around the rim.
The challenge Thursday is doing it again after the Mystics have had a full day to adjust.
Rebounding still matters
Hammon did not let the win cover up the obvious weakness.
“Our season depends on defense and rebounding,” she said. “I’m going to continue to demand it.”
The Aces were crushed 15-2 on the glass in the first quarter Tuesday before responding. They actually outrebounded Washington 28-26 over the final three periods, but the overall gap remained significant.
Hammon said the responsibility cannot fall only on the frontcourt. Wilson and NaLyssa Smith combined for 24 rebounds Tuesday, while the rest of the team collected six.
“It has to be a mindset,” Hammon said. “It has to be a priority.”
Washington still ranks first in rebounding and rebound percentage while sitting second in offensive rebound percentage. Las Vegas enters sixth in rebounds and 14th in offensive rebound percentage.
If Washington takes better care of the ball Thursday, those extra possessions could become much more damaging.
Dictate, don’t react
A’ja Wilson described the fourth quarter Tuesday as a shift in mentality.
“I think we started dictating things versus just reacting to things,” Wilson said.
That may be the most important carryover point of all. Las Vegas entered the fourth with a three-point lead and won the period 23-16, with Wilson scoring nine of her 26 points in the quarter.
Wilson said the difference came from staying calm and focusing on the possession in front of them rather than chasing the scoreboard. The Aces may need the same patience Thursday because Washington now knows where Las Vegas applied pressure and how aggressively the Aces attacked the ball.
Hammon also pointed to Jackie Young’s control as part of the difference. Young finished with 25 points and eight assists without a turnover, giving Las Vegas another way to punish Washington when it sent extra pressure.
Home rhythm continues
The schedule remains favorable for Las Vegas.
The Aces improved to 23-11 with Tuesday’s win and are now 10-5 at home. Thursday is another 7 p.m. PT start, and Las Vegas is 10-1 this season in games tipping at exactly that time.
That split does not prove anything by itself, but it fits a larger shift in the schedule. After a taxing five-game road trip, the Aces are back home and working from a more familiar routine.
“It feels good being back in Vegas,” Young said after Tuesday’s win. “Winning some home games is important for us. We need to take care of home court.”
Thursday gives Las Vegas a chance to do more than repeat Tuesday’s result. The Mystics will adjust, the rebounding battle will remain physical and the turnover margin may not fall the same way twice.
For the Aces, the test is whether the habits that decided the first meeting in Las Vegas can hold up when Washington knows they are coming.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
