Latest news with #LasVegasAces
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Valkyries Coach Makes Honest Admission About Facing Chicago Sky Coach
Valkyries Coach Makes Honest Admission About Facing Chicago Sky Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As Natalie Nakase, hired by the Golden State Valkyries in October 2024, prepared to face Tyler Marsh, the Chicago Sky's first-year head coach, she was reminded of the time they spent together under Becky Hammon in Vegas. Advertisement Both proteges of Hammon, Nakase and Marsh helped guide the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023. When asked about the "uniqueness of being first-year head coaches at the same time and not calling each other opponents," Nakase tempered the moment with nostalgia. "It's awkward, to be honest, to call each other opponents. When you win two championships and spend that much time together… you learn a lot. You end up really becoming family," she said, recalling late-night texts and shared meals under the Aces banner. Yet, she added, "At the same time, we're here to do a job. This is business, and we're here to win." Marsh, who completed his playing days at UAB and Birmingham-Southern before embarking on a coaching path, cut his teeth in the G League and NBA, with the Toronto Raptors (2019 NBA champion) and Indiana Pacers, before joining the Aces in March 2022. Advertisement Nakase, meanwhile, spent time coaching overseas in Germany and Japan before working with the Agua Caliente Clippers (G League) and Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant, and eventually the Aces from 2022 to 2024. Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Butler II-Imagn Images Coming into the game, the Valkyries had defied expectations with a .500 record (7-7) in their inaugural season, while the Sky have struggled to find consistency, boasting a 4-10 record and the league's second-worst point differential (-10.3). With both teams on opposite sides of the standings, Friday's meeting at Chase Center offered more than your typical midseason contest. Related: Stephanie White Breaks Silence After Missing Chicago Sky Game Related: Ranking the 25 Best WNBA Players of All Time This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mercury face the Aces on 6-game win streak
Las Vegas Aces (7-8, 3-6 Western Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (12-4, 6-4 Western Conference) Phoenix; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury comes into a matchup against Las Vegas Aces as winners of six straight games. Advertisement The Mercury are 6-4 in Western Conference games. Phoenix is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points. The Aces' record in Western Conference action is 3-6. Las Vegas has a 3-5 record against opponents over .500. Phoenix averages 10.4 made 3-pointers per game, 3.1 more made shots than the 7.3 per game Las Vegas allows. Las Vegas averages 80.7 points per game, 1.7 more than the 79.0 Phoenix gives up to opponents. The teams square off for the second time this season. The Mercury won the last matchup 76-70 on June 15. Satou Sabally scored 22 points to help lead the Mercury to the win. TOP PERFORMERS: Sabally is averaging 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Mercury. Sami Whitcomb is averaging 10.7 points over the last 10 games. Advertisement A'ja Wilson is averaging 21.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, two steals and 2.8 blocks for the Aces. Jewell Loyd is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mercury: 8-2, averaging 86.7 points, 34.4 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.7 points per game. Aces: 4-6, averaging 79.2 points, 33.1 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.2 points. INJURIES: Mercury: Alexa Held: out (chest). Aces: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus: out (personal), Megan Gustafson: out (leg). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Mercury face the Aces on 6-game win streak
Las Vegas Aces (7-8, 3-6 Western Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (12-4, 6-4 Western Conference) Phoenix; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury comes into a matchup against Las Vegas Aces as winners of six straight games. The Mercury are 6-4 in Western Conference games. Phoenix is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points. The Aces' record in Western Conference action is 3-6. Las Vegas has a 3-5 record against opponents over .500. Phoenix averages 10.4 made 3-pointers per game, 3.1 more made shots than the 7.3 per game Las Vegas allows. Las Vegas averages 80.7 points per game, 1.7 more than the 79.0 Phoenix gives up to opponents. The teams square off for the second time this season. The Mercury won the last matchup 76-70 on June 15. Satou Sabally scored 22 points to help lead the Mercury to the win. TOP PERFORMERS: Sabally is averaging 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds for the Mercury. Sami Whitcomb is averaging 10.7 points over the last 10 games. A'ja Wilson is averaging 21.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, two steals and 2.8 blocks for the Aces. Jewell Loyd is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Mercury: 8-2, averaging 86.7 points, 34.4 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.7 points per game. Aces: 4-6, averaging 79.2 points, 33.1 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 41.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.2 points. INJURIES: Mercury: Alexa Held: out (chest). Aces: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus: out (personal), Megan Gustafson: out (leg). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chennedy Carter Had Three Words for a Fan Wearing A'ja Wilson T-Shirt
Chennedy Carter Had Three Words for a Fan Wearing A'ja Wilson T-Shirt originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky are off to a 4-10 start during the 2025 WNBA season. In 2024, they finished with a 13-27 record, meaning their win percentage has dropped in 2025 to 28.6% from last year's mark of 32.5%. Advertisement Last season, guard Chennedy Carter led the team in scoring at 17.5 points per game and also added 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. She was not re-signed this offseason, however, as the team opted for Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot instead. Carter was not picked up during the offseason by any of the other 12 WNBA franchises either, so she chose to sign with a professional team in Mexico for this season. Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7).Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images On Thursday, a fan posted a video of themselves trying to make a trick shot on social media. In the video, the fan was wearing a Nike T-shirt of Las Vegas Aces star center A'ja Wilson. In response to the video, Carter chimed in with three simple words about the fan's choice of clothing. Advertisement "coo t shirt 😍🫡," Carter wrote. Former Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter sends a message to fan wearing A'ja Wilson / Threads The Chicago Sky's 77.9 points per game this season are currently ranked 12th in the WNBA, ahead of only the 2-13 Connecticut Sun. Ariel Atkins is leading the way with 13.9 points, and second-year post players Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese are contributing 12.7 and 11.3, respectively (via Pro Basketball Reference). On Friday, the Chicago Sky will be back in action as they match up against the 7-7 Golden State Valkyries. The game will take place at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, and tipoff is currently set for 10:00 p.m. ET. Related: WNBA Fans Loving Kamilla Cardoso Moment After Chicago Sky Game Related: Chicago Sky Locker Room Video Emerges After Sparks Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WNBA MVP odds for 2025: Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier tops list
As the WNBA season progresses, the WNBA MVP race is intensifying, with Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier currently leading in odds. The competition has seen some surprising developments, as three-time MVP A'ja Wilson, of the Las Vegas Aces, has fallen from the top perch. Wilson was the early favorite to secure her fourth MVP trophy, which would make her the only player in WNBA history to achieve this. However, since the regular season has continued, Wilson has dropped significantly in the current MVP odds. Collier now leads the updated odds with -275, while Indiana Fever's star Caitlin Clark is in clear second place with +200 odds. New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart sits at a distance in third place, with odds at +4000. Here are the top odds to win the 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Player award: CAITLIN CLARK: Injury complicates shooting slump; experts weigh in WNBA MVP Odds 2025 Odds according to BetMGM as of afternoon June 24:
