BROOKLYN, NY (Aug. 5, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty (21-6) were dubbed “Super Teams” during the offseason, but two thirds of the way through the year, they have squared off against one another just one time—on June 29 when the Aces dispatched the Liberty in a 98-81 victory.

Download Game Notes

All that is about to change, however, as New York pops up on Las Vegas’ dance card 3 times over the Aces next 6 games, beginning with a Sunday, August 6 meeting at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn. Tip is slated for 1 pm PT on ABC.

The Aces bring a 24-2 record with them into the weekend, which ties them with the 1998 Houston Comets for the best record in WNBA history through 26 games. That Houston team won its 27th game to improve to 25-2 before dropping its 3rd game of the season in its next outing.

Las Vegas has also won 8 consecutive games overall, all of which have come by 10 or more points, and all of which have come without the services of two-time league MVP and key offseason free agent acquisition Candace Parker, who recently had surgery on her left foot.

The Aces haven’t let Parker’s absence slow them down, as their scoring differential without the two-time WNBA Champion is +18.5—up from +14.5 over the first 18 games of the season.

Las Vegas was already posting record-setting offensive numbers prior to Park’s surgery, but those figures have actually improved over the past 8 games. Prior to July 8, the Aces were averaging a league-best 112.7 points per 100 possessions. Since then, that OER figure is up to an unheard of 120.3. Las Vegas’ scoring average (94.4 ppg), field goal percentage (.504) and 2-point field goal percentage (.567) will all set WNBA records should the Aces maintain them through season’s end.

A’ja Wilson is putting up another M’VP caliber season, averaging 20.7 points (5th), 9.3 rebounds (4th) and 2.27 blocked shots (1st) while connecting on a career-high 55.0 percent of her field goal attempts (6th). Teammates Kelsey Plum (19.4 ppg), Jackie Young (18.8) and Chelsea Gray (14.9) are also scoring in double figures, and Wilson, Plum and Young are threatening to become the first trio of teammates to average at least 18 points per game in the same season.

The Point Gawd ranks 3rd in the league in assists (6.9 apg), and is on pace to break the franchise record in assists per game, while Young (.473), Gray (.446) and super sub Alysha Clark (.432) are ranked first, second and fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage.

New York is 3.5 games behind the Aces in the race for the top spot in the WNBA standings following their road victory over Minnesota Friday night.

The Liberty have won 7 of their last 8 contests, with their lone loss coming at home against that same Minnesota squad. New York boasts the 2nd most efficient offense in the league (107.6) and the 4th most efficient defense (100.4). They are the best free throw shooting team in the league (.833), and rank second in field goal percentage (.451), 3-point field goal percentage (.371) and rebound percentage (.529).

The Liberty revamped their roster during the offseason adding two-time WNBA champion Breanna Stewart, 2021 league MVP Jonquel Jones, and the league’s all-time leader in assists per game, Courtney Vandersloot. Stewart (22.7 ppg) leads 5 members of the team in double figures. She is joined by Sabrina Ionescu (16.4), Jones (11.8), Betnijah Laney (11.2) and Sloot (10.6).

In the earlier meeting this season between Las Vegas and New York, the Aces scored the first 11 points coming of the intermission, outscoring the Liberty 27-14 in the 3rd to put the game out of reach. Kelsey Plum’s 18 points led 5 Aces in double figures as Las Vegas’ defense held  Stewart (16), Ionescu (7), Vandersloot (10), and Laney (3) below their season scoring averages. They also held Sloot to just 5 assists, and forced her into committing 6 turnovers.