LAS VEGAS (June 20, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces (10-1) travel to Phoenix, Wednesday, for a 12:30 pm PT clash against the Mercury (2-8) at Footprint Center. The game will air on FOX 5, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network and across the radio airwaves on ESPN Las Vegas.

• Game Notes

The contest marks the first meeting of the year between the two teams who sit on opposite ends of the WNBA standings.

The Aces are first in the WNBA in both Offensive (110.9) and Defensive Efficiency (91.2), beating opponents by an average of 15.8 points per game, which would break the WNBA record should they maintain that scoring differential at season’s end. They are also threatening to break league marks for field goal percentage (49.7%) and 2-point field goal percentage (56.9%), while turning the ball over a league-low 15.2 percent of their possessions.

Las Vegas is led in scoring by Jackie Young’s career-best 20.8 ppg. A’ja Wilson (18.5), Kelsey Plum (15.9) and Chelsea Gray (13.8) round out the team’s quarter of double-figure scorers.

Defensively, the Aces are trying to become the second team in WNBA history to lead the league in both steals and blocked shots per game (2000 Sacramento Monarchs). Heading into Tuesday night, Las Vegas rank first in both categories (8.9 spg, 5.9 bpg). They are also the second-best defensive rebounding team in the WNBA (75.7 DReb%), and the second-best rebounding team overall (51.5 Reb%). On the team’s recently-completed three-game home stand, it held opponents to an average of 68.3 points per game, including 63 and 62 points in their recent victories over Seattle and Minnesota.

Wilson ranks 7th in the WNBA in rebounds per game (9.4), while Candace Parker, Gray and Young are all in the top 10 in steals per game with 1.8, 1.7 and 1.7 respectively. Wilson rank 2nd in the W in blocks per game (2.2), and Kiah Stokes is tied for 7th (1.5).

Phoenix, meanwhile, has the least efficient defense (106.4) and the third least efficient offense (95.8) in the league. The Mercury hoped to be bolstered this year by the return of All-Star center Brittney Griner, who missed the 2022 season while being wrongfully detained in Russia. She was back to her All-WNBA form in the early going, averaging 22.7 points through the first 7 games of the year while connecting on 64.8 percent of her field goal attempts, but she injured her hip early in the team’s June 13 loss to Seattle and has not played since.

Also absent the last two games is one of the WNBA’s G.O.A.T.s, Diana Taurasi, who averaged 17.4 points through the team’s first 7 games, before going scoreless against the Storm, and being diagnosed with a hamstring injury shortly thereafter.

The Mercury have dropped three straight games, and been outscored by an average of 17.0 points during that stretch, failing to score more than 71 points in any game.

Phoenix owns a 53-41 regular season record over the Aces, but Las Vegas swept the season series against the Mercury a year ago, and has won five straight including the postseason.

GAME STATUS UPDATE: Riquna Williams—out (lower back).

NEXT OPPONENT

The Aces are back home for their next four games, beginning with a June 24 clash in back-to-back games against the Indiana Fever at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Tip-off is at 6 pm PT and the game will be broadcast on FOX 5, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network and NBA TV; and air on the radio at ESPN Las Vegas 100.9 FM and 1100 AM. The teams play again on June 26 at 7 pm PT.

Las Vegas erased a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit en route to an 84-80 road win over Indiana on June 4. Wilson posted a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Young scored 19, and Gray added 17. Trailing by 10 with 7:48 to play, the Aces scored 8 unanswered points to cut it to 2, 71-69. Four minutes later, a 6-0 Aces spurt gave them the lead, they connected on four consecutive free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.