SEATTLE, WA (July 18, 2019)—The Las Vegas Aces have won five straight games heading into Friday night’s meeting with the Seattle Storm, vaulting into first place in the WNBA in the process with an 11-5 record.
Those five straight victories mark the longest winning streak for the Aces since the 2012 season when they rattled off 12 in a row.
A’ja Wilson (16.4 ppg), Liz Cambage (15.5) and Kayla McBride (15.4) rank in the top 11 in the league in scoring. Dearica Hamby is also knocking on the double-digit door at 9.7 points per game.
McBride is the third best sharpshooter in the league, connecting on 46.8 percent of her shots from three-point range. She is also sixth in the W in free throw percentage.
The Aces continue to have the best defense in the league, pacing the WNBA in defensive efficiency, defensive field goal percentage, adjusted defensive field goal percentage and defensive rebound percentage.
The Storm are 11-8 on the season, and have won three straight games despite being without three-time WNBA champion Sue Bird, and 2018 league MVP Breanna Stewart, both of whom have yet to play this season due to injury.
Seattle boasts the second best defense in the W, ranking third in defensive rebound percentage and forcing the most turnovers per game.
Natasha Howard’s 18.2 points per game scoring average is third in the WNBA. She is joined in double figures by Jewell Loyd (15.8) and Jordin Canada (10.5), both of whom have also missed playing time this season.
The Aces have won two straight over the Storm, including an 89-77 road decision on June 19 of last year. The two teams played against one another on June 25 of this year with Las Vegas eking out a 60-56 victory. Liz Cambage recorded a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double in the win, while A’ja Wilson added 12 points and 8 boards.