LAS VEGAS (June 20, 2024)—The Las Vegas Aces conclude their 3-game home stand Friday, June 21, against the front-running Connecticut Sun (12-1). The Aces’ record-setting 9th sell-out of the season is being broadcast on ION beginning at 7 pm PT.
The Sun won their first 9 games of 2024 before the New York Liberty put a stop to their winning streak, 82-75, on June 8. Connecticut has since rattled off 4 more wins, en route to the best 13-game start in franchise history.
All 5 of the team’s starters are averaging double figures in scoring led by DeWanna Bonner’s 17.5 points per game. Longtime vets Brionna Jones (13.4 ppg) and Alyssa Thomas (12.7 ppg) are second and third on the team in scoring, while Dijonai Carrington and Tyasha Harris are posting career highs of 12.6 and 11.1 points per game respectively. If Connecticut has an Achilles heel, it is its 3-point shooting where the team connects on just 30.4 percent from distance. However, they use the 3-pointer as a weapon less frequently than just one other WNBA team, and take the most free throw attempts per game in the W.
The defensive side of the ball is where the Sun really shines as they lead the WNBA in defensive efficiency rating holding opponents to 90.8 points per 100 possessions. Connecticut foes are making just 29% of their shots from 3-point range, and the Sun are the third best defensive rebounding team in the league grabbing 73.1% of all available defensive boards.
The Aces improved to 7-6 on the year Wednesday, with a 94-83 win over the Seattle Storm (box score/recap). The game marked the return of the Point Gawd, Chelsea Gray, who handed out 7 assists in just 15 minutes in her first action since an injury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
A’ja Wilson is the favorite to win her third M’VP Award as she paces the W in scoring (27.9 ppg) and rebounding (11.3) while ranking second in blocks (2.5) and 7th in steals (1.8). She is also making 52.3% of her shots from the field and 43.8% of her shots from 3-point range.
Jackie Young (19.0 ppg) and Kelsey Plum (18.2 ppg) also rank in the top 10 in the league in scoring, helping Las Vegas to the second most efficient offense in the WNBA (105.9 OER). The Aces lead the league in lowest turnover percentage (14.6%) and are the best free throw shooting team in the W (.845). Las Vegas is also tops in the league in densive rebound percentage (.760), but allows opponents to connect on a league-high 38.6% of their shots from beyond the arc.
This is the first meeting of the season between the Sun and Aces. Connecticut leads the all-time series 33-21, but Las Vegas has won 6 of the last 8 meetings, including a 3-games-to-1 victory in the 2022 WNBA Finals.