WNBA: Aces tackle Valkyries with A’ja Wilson’s standing in query

We’ve a pair of nationally televised WNBA video games to stay up for this Saturday, July 11. Two of the WNBA’s greatest energy forwards, Napheesa Collier and Angel Reese, will meet when the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (18-3) go to the Chicago Sky (6-13) at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. Afterward CBS at 4 p.m. ET, the Golden State Valkyries (10-9) will tackle the Las Vegas Aces (11th of September), a matchup that can rely closely upon the standing of reigning MVP A’ja Wilson.

Angel Reese and the Sky look to decelerate Napheesa Collier and the Lynx

Angel Reese isn’t any stranger to placing up large numbers, however she’s raised her recreation even greater currently, and the Sky have wanted each little bit of it.

Reese, who rapidly established herself as one of many WNBA’s prime rebounders in her rookie season, is at the moment engaged on a streak of seven-consecutive double-doubles. Throughout that span, she’s averaging 17.4 factors and 16.1 rebounds per recreation—the latter of which, to nobody’s shock, leads the league by a wholesome margin.

The place Reese has really grown, although, is as a playmaker. The Sky have been in dire want of value-added passing since start line guard Courtney Vandersloot went down with a season-ending knee harm, and so they’ve compensated by working extra of their offense by way of Reese: she’s averaging a team-best 4.5 assists per recreation within the 12 video games Chicago has performed with out Vandersloot.

Picture by Matt Krohn/Getty Photographs

Granted, this isn’t a really perfect state of affairs for the Sky, who’re at the moment in tenth place within the WNBA standings and will likely be internet hosting the league’s prime group, the Lynx, on Saturday. Minnesota has solely gotten higher since its WNBA Finals run final season, although its components for fulfillment stays largely the identical: The Lynx’ offense is each selfless and environment friendly, main the league in assisted shot charge (75.5 %) and efficient area purpose share (53 %), and so they’ve been excellent on protection, too, permitting a WNBA-best 94.7 factors per 100 possessions.

Whereas a lot of that statistical dominance is pushed by a team-first tradition established by head coach Cheryl Reeve and her employees, the Lynx even have the most effective participant on the courtroom in most of their video games. Ahead Napheesa Collier is placing collectively one of many best all-around seasons of her profession, averaging 23.5 factors, 7.9 rebounds and three.3 assists per recreation to associate with 1.6 steals and blocks apiece. The WNBA’s reigning Defensive Participant of the Yr, Collier has additionally been extremely environment friendly taking pictures the ball, taking pictures a career-best 58.3 % on 2-pointers and 95.6 % on the free throw line.

There’s a number of issues that the Lynx do effectively that the Sky must deal with, however conserving Collier at bay should be their prime precedence in the event that they’re going to earn an upset. Reese will possible draw the project in what will likely be a matchup between two of the WNBA’s premier energy forwards.

Can the Aces flip issues round with out A’ja Wilson?

The Aces’ most up-to-date setback in what has already been a disappointing season is one which they will ill-afford. Wilson, the WNBA’s back-to-back reigning MVP, suffered a wrist sprain within the group’s latest loss to the New York Liberty, and in response to head coach Becky Hammon, there may be no timetable for her return.

This doesn’t imply that Wilson is assured to overlook prolonged time, in fact, however the Aces should not less than put together to be with out her. That’s an unnerving state of affairs; the Aces are 1-3 in video games that Wilson has missed to this point, and so they’re getting outscored by 13.1 factors per 100 possession when she sits.

Picture by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs

In equity to the Aces’ subsequent opponent, the Valkyries, issues didn’t go significantly better the final time they met—and that was with Wilson taking part in. Again on June 7, the Valkyries got here out on prime, 95-68, holding the Aces to 35.5 % taking pictures from the sphere and extra turnovers (13) than assists (11).

Such protection has turn into a trademark of the Valkyries’ success of their inaugural WNBA season. Golden State ranks second within the league in defensive score, permitting 97.3 factors per 100 possessions, and first in opponents’ efficient area purpose share at 46.2 %. Being an enlargement group, the Valkyries don’t but have many family names on their roster (save, maybe, for 2025 All-Star Kayla Thornton and reigning Sixth Girl of the Yr Tiffany Hayes), however former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase has them taking part in arduous, and so they’ve clearly leaned right into a defense-first identification beneath their first-year head coach.

The Aces could have their work reduce out for them towards the Valkyries protection, particularly if Wilson doesn’t play. Las Vegas will likely be counting on bounce-back video games from guards Jackie Younger and Jewell Loyd, who shot a mixed 2-for-14 from the sphere of their final recreation towards Golden State, to assist the Aces get again into the win column. They’ll have the benefit of taking part in at house, the place they’ve carried out barely higher (5-4) than they’ve on the highway, however the Valkyries don’t play scared, and so they’ll be smelling blood within the water if Las Vegas takes the courtroom with out its largest weapon.

Recreation data

Minnesota Lynx (18-3) vs. Chicago Sky (6-13)

When: Saturday, July 12 at 1 p.m. ET

The place: Wintrust Area in Chicago, IL

How you can watch: ABC/ESPN+

Golden State Valkyries (10-9) vs. Las Vegas Aces (11th of September)

When: Saturday, July 12 at 4 p.m. ET

The place: Michelob ULTRA Area in Las Vegas, NV

How you can watch: CBS