With the Aces on the second leg of a back-to-back set Sunday when they visit the Liberty, Las Vegas has decided to rest A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray.
With these three in the lineup Saturday, the Aces fell to the top-seeded Lynx, 98-87. Sunday will be the fourth matchup of the season between the Aces and Liberty, with New York being 2-1 in this matchup. When these clubs faced off in the Commissioner’s Cup Final, Wilson was inactive and the Liberty prevailed, 93-85.
Las Vegas will be at a serious disadvantage this time around with Wilson, Young and Gray all sidelined. Wilson is in the midst of another incredible season, leading the WNBA with 26.3 PPG. Currently on DraftKings Sportsbook, Wilson is a -500 favorite to win her fifth MVP award.
Young is also having an awesome season, averaging 18.1 points and 6.7 assists per game, both of which are career highs, and Gray is averaging 12.6 PPG. Just this past Thursday night vs. the Fever, Gray knocked down a buzzer-beating three in regulation to force overtime, then she hit another buzzer-beating trey to win the game in the extra period.
The Aces haven’t played a game without all three of Wilson, Young and Gray this season, but with these three off the floor, the team’s net rating is a terrible -23.6, so the 19-13 Liberty being a 10.5-point favorite for this matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook is well-justified.
With Wilson, Young and Gray inactive, NaLyssa Smith and Jewell Loyd should operate as the Aces’ main options.
