ACES’ WILSON A GOOD BET TO BE ALL-STAR
play?
Head coach and team president Bill Laimbeer says his team is going to prioritize defense and rebounding (shocker). On the other end of the court, the offense is going to be molded in Wilson’s image. The 6-foot-5 power forward/center is a bully in the low post, with the quickness to face up and score against slower defenders. The Aces offense will run through the rookie.
Who will be the team’s leading scorer?
Wilson may be a rookie, but she’sreadytoplay.she’llleadthe way with 15.8 points per game.
When will the team be complete?
Soon. Due to commitments to their European club teams, guards Kayla Mcbride and Kelsey Plum were not with the Aces during training camp. With the Euroleague season wrapping up last week, both players should be ready to rep Las Vegas for the team’s regular-season home opener Sunday. Mcbride and Plum spent the first two road games of the season (both road games) on the “suspended” list.
What will Laimbeer’s impact be?
Laimbeer
has
proved
he knows how to build winners in the WNBA, and it usually doesn’t take long. He took the Detroit Shock from worst-to-first and won a championship in his first full season there, and he turned the New York Liberty around from a bottom dweller to the top of the Eastern Conference in just one season. After three straight dreadful finishes, the Stars/aces are ripe for some of Laimbeer’s turnaround magic.
Who could be the team’s breakout star?
Plum is well known to women’s basketball fans as the NCAA’S all-time leading scorer, so calling her a “breakout” candidate is kind of a cop out. But she wasn’t an instant success in the WNBA, as she averaged just 8.5 points as a rookie last year while making 34.6 percent of her shots from the field. With a season of WNBA experience under her belt (and a successful Euroleague campaign providing momentum), Plum is poised to emerge astheperimeterscorertheaces will need to complement Wilson.
Who will lead the team in rebounding?
Wilson averaged 11.8 rebounds as a senior in college, then pulled down 9.5 in two WNBA preseason games last week. She’ll flirt with double-digit boards this season and finish with a team-leading 10.1 per game.
Who will be the team’s top 3-point shooter?
Plum struggled with her shot last season, but all the tools that helped her hit 343 triples in her college career are still there. With Wilson drawing attention from opposing defenses, Plum should have plenty of space to fire away from 3 this year. She made 42.8 percent from long distance as a senior in college, then dropped off to 36.5 percent as a rookie last year. Somewhere in between — let’s say, 39.5 percent —wouldmakehertheaces’top sniper in 2018.
Could we be looking at another Golden Knights situation?
The Aces aren’t a true expansion team, but fans are already anticipating a Knights-type postseason run. The Aces opened at 100-1 odds to win the WNBA championship this season, but have already dropped to 18-1. That gives them the sixth-best odds in the 12-team league. So while they may win like the Gold- en Knights, any success won’t be asmuchofasurprise.
Will they enjoy a homecourt advantage?
Mandalay Bay Events Center is going for something different. Courtside seating is arranged as a section with lounge-style tables (as opposed to the normal Gucci Row style), and a rock band performed live behind the baseline before the team’s only home exhibition game. It will certainly be a unique setting. If fans show up, the Aces may have something going on their home court.
What will be the highest attended game?
The capacity for the Mandalay Bay Events Center is listed at 12,000, and there are some WNBA teams that draw in that range. The Aces drew 2,091 for their exhibition against the Chinese National Team on May 6, but I think they can break 10,000 for the home opener.
Who will lead the team in assists?
Moriah Jefferson averaged 4.4 assists last year, and Wilson will be her new best friend. Look for Jefferson to feed the post often and bump her team-leading assists to 5.5 per game.
What will be the Aces’ longest winning streak?
Las Vegas will win four straight from July 1 to July 10, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks, the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky (twice).
Will the Aces have any all-stars?
No one on the roster made the all-star team last year (except Laimbeer, who was named coach of the East team by virtue of the Liberty having the best record in the conference, though a family issue prevented him from coaching the game), but the Aces have a good shot at representation this season thanks to Wilson. She’ll make the team, and Mcbride will draw strong consideration.
Will the Aces make the playoffs?
Yes. Eight of the 12 teams make the playoffs, and Laimbeer isn’t about to miss the cut with all the young talent on the Aces roster. Look for Las Vegas to qualify for the postseason as the No. 6 seed.