LAS VEGAS (July 29, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces (22-2) return home Sunday afternoon for a clash against the Dallas Wings (14-10) at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Tip-off is set for 3 pm PT, and the game will be broadcast on Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network, as well as across the radio waves on ESPN Las Vegas.

• Game Notes

The Wings are one of two teams to have gotten the better of the Aces this year, but they started the season off with a 6-8 mark. They have since won 8 of their last 10 games and are coming off a 90-68 victory over the Washington Mystics, Friday.

In the first meeting between the clubs this year, Las Vegas earned an 89-82 victory at home on July 5. Two days later in Dallas, the Aces were edged 80-78. Las Vegas will travel to Dallas on August 8 to close out the 4-game series.

The Aces have four players who are averaging 17 or more points a game against Dallas this year in Jackie Young (21.5 ppg), Kelsey Plum (21 points), A’ja Wilson (20 ppg) and Chelsea Gray (17 ppg). However, the Wings are holding Las Vegas to 83.5 points per game—more than 10 points below their seasonal average, and the lowest mark of any Aces opponent. Connecticut is the only other team in the league holding Las Vegas below 90 points on the year (89.7).

The Aces, who are shooting 50.7% from the field against their other 10 WNBA opponents in 2023, are making 45.6% vs. Dallas. Las Vegas also commits 15.5 turnovers per game against the Wings as compared to 12.0 against the rest of the league.

Dallas was led in the two games by the inside duo of 6-foot-2 forward Natasha Howard (24 ppg, 12 rpg) and 6-foot-7 center Teaira McCowan (14.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg). The Wings were further aided by Arike Ogunbowale’s 16.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, while Crystal Dangerfield added 12.5 points a game.

In addition to taking a run at the WNBA record for best regular season record, Las Vegas has continued its assault on the top of the statistical leader boards, pacing the league in scoring (94.1), field goal percentage (.504), blocked shots (5.2), offensive (114.8) and defensive (95.8) efficiency rating, assist-to-turnover ratio (1.83) and points in the paint (41.1). The Aces rank second in 3-point field goal percentage (.376), defensive rebounds per game (28.8), assists (22.4) and steals (8.0).

Dallas has also climbed towards the top of the charts in a number of major statistical categories, including ranking first in offensive rebounds (12.2), total rebounds (39.5) offensive (.358) defensive (.736) and total (.538) rebound percentage, second chance points (14.7), fast break points (14.4) and opponents points in the paint (32.7).

The Wings improved play over the past 10 contests has come on both ends of the floor, and can be seen in both traditional and advanced statistics. Their scoring differential was -0.9 through 14 games, and over the last 10 is a +7.7.

A sizable chunk of that improvement has come thanks to their rebounding prowess. Since June 27, Dallas is grabbing 39.1 percent of available offensive rebounds and 77.3 percent of defensive boards (up from 33.9 percent and 72.1 percent, respectively). Both of those figures, if carried throughout an entire season, would be at near record-setting levels, and they have allowed the Wings to score 1.4 more second chance points on the offensive side of the ball, and allow 1.7 fewer on the defensive side.

Dallas is also making 47.4 percent of its field goal attempts over its last 10 games (.407 prior), and holding opponents to 30.1 percent from 3-point range (.346 prior).

Both teams have strong inside games, ranking 1st (Las Vegas, 41.4) and 2nd (Dallas, 41.1) respectively in points in the paint per game, but the Aces hold the advantage from 3-point range. Las Vegas is connecting on 37.6 percent of its shots from distance (2nd), and the Wings are making 29.6 percent of theirs (12th).

The Aces have two players among the top 5 league leaders for 3-point shooting percentage—Young is making a league-high 48.7% of hers and Gray is ranked 4th at 43.5%. The top two 3-point threats on the Wings are Satou Sabally (.333) and Ogunbowale (.320), who are both ranked outside the top 40.

Las Vegas remains at home following Sunday’s game against Dallas, hosting the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, August 1 beginning at 7 pm PT.