Bradenton, FL (August 24, 2020)—The Las Vegas Aces hit the road, Tuesday, to take on the Dallas Wings, where waiting for them will be the WNBA’s leading scorer in Arike Ogunbowale.

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Ogunbowale is the lone player in the W averaging better than 20 points per game at 21.5. She has been even better over the past five games averaging 23.8 points.

The second-year pro is a high-volume shooter, averaging a league-high 18.7 shots per game. That would be the fourth highest average in WNBA history should she maintain that pace. But Ogunbowale is more than a one-trick-pony, as she leads the team and ranks among the league leaders in assists (3.4, 16th) and steals (1.93, 3rd).

Ogunbowale is joined by Allisha Gray (12.1 ppg) and Satou Sabally (10.7), averaging double figures in scoring for the Wings. Dallas’ offense is ranked eighth in the league at 101.7 points per 100 possessions, but they take great care of the basketball, recording a miscue on just 16.5 percent of their possessions. They are also the fourth best offensive rebounding team in the league.

The Wings will be without the service of two former Aces, Tuesday. Moriah Jefferson (knee) and Isabelle Harrison (ankle), who were traded to Dallas as part of the Liz Cambage deal last spring, are both going to miss the remainder of the season due to their injuries. That leaves the Wings with predominantly a 7-8 person rotation.

Right behind Ogunbowale in the race for the league scoring title is A’ja Wilson at 19.8 points per game. The two-time All-Star is also third in the WNBA in rebounding (8.8) and blocked shots (1.54). She has a trio of double-digit scorers around her in Angel McCoughtry (15.2), Dearica Hamby (11.8) and Kayla McBride (11.4).

McCoughtry, a five-time All-Star and two-time Olympian, continues to turn back the clock, posting career highs in field goal percentage (.538), three-point field goal percentage (.455) and free throw percentage (.850). Hamby is matching or bettering her numbers from a year ago when she was named the WNBA’s Sixth Woman of the Year shooting 53.8 percent from the field, including a career-high 42.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Bill Laimbeer coached teams have always had strong defensive reputations, and this year is no different as the Aces boast the second most efficient defense in the league. While their perimeter defenders hold opponents to a league-low 29.0 percent from long distance, Las Vegas’ interior players crash the defensive glass better than any team in the W grabbing 75.9 percent of all available defensive rebounds.

What is new this year is the team’s efficiency on the offensive end. The Aces are scoring 105.2 points per 100 possessions, which is the third best figure in the league. No Bill Laimbeer coached team has ever ranked higher than third, and his 2003, 2006 and 2008 championship teams ranked 5th, 8th and 4th respectively.

The Aces take great care of the basketball turning the ball over on just 16.5 percent of their possessions, and are connecting on 48.1 percent of their shots from the field, which is third best in the league.

Las Vegas’ bench continues to provide a huge boost as it ranks first in the league in minutes, points, rebounds and assists per game. Hamby leads the Bench Mob in scoring, but Danielle Robinson has been quietly putting together a great season. She is averaging 8.2 points while making nearly 50 percent of her shots. Over her last four games, she is averaging 6.3 assists.

The Aces are 27-35 all-time against Dallas, who trace their lineage back through Tulsa and Detroit. The Aces have won four straight against the Wings, including a 79-70 decision on August 2 of this year. Wilson scored a team-high 19 in the win, as Las Vegas’ defense held Dallas to 4 of 30 from three-point range.