WNBA: With Chelsea Grey again in lineup, Aces renew rivalry with Liberty

The Las Vegas Aces (16-8) host the league-leading New York Liberty (22-4) for the second time within the 2024 season this Saturday, Aug. 17. The renewal of one of many WNBA’s most intense rivalries is scheduled to tip-off at 4:00 p.m. ET and shall be televised nationally on CBS.

It’s all the time a must-watch sport each time the Aces and Liberty play, and the primary matchup of the season between the 2 groups was no completely different. Again in June, the Liberty outlasted the Aces 90-82, using a dozen made 3-pointers and a career-high 34 factors from heart Jonquel Jones to a win in Las Vegas.

Issues will look a bit completely different this time round, nevertheless, with Chelsea Grey again within the lineup for Las Vegas. The star level guard was nonetheless recovering from a foot harm suffered in final yr’s WNBA Finals when the Aces misplaced to the Liberty earlier this season, and whereas Las Vegas saved the sport shut in opposition to its rival, Grey’s absence was noticeable when it got here to the shortage of halfcourt playmaking and capturing that solely she will be able to present.

Grey’s return has coincided with an Aces scorching streak that has made Las Vegas look far more just like the powerhouse that has gained two-consecutive WNBA championships than the staff that started the 2024 season at 6-6. The Aces have gone 10-2 since then, and whereas Grey herself continues to be enjoying herself again into sport form, her impression on her staff has been simple. In these 12 video games, Las Vegas has had the perfect offense within the league, scoring 108.8 factors per 100 possessions, with Grey’s unmatched passing additional elevating the skills of fellow Aces stars A’ja Wilson, Jackie Younger and Kelsey Plum.

Picture by David Becker/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

The Liberty, in the meantime, have been with out an essential participant of their very own in Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Usually thought of to be New York’s finest defensive participant on the perimeter, Laney-Hamilton was additionally capturing 38 p.c on 3-pointers when she underwent a knee process that’s anticipated to maintain her out by late August. New York nonetheless has loads of perimeter protection, with gamers like Kayla Thornton and Kennedy Burke stepping up in Laney-Hamilton’s absence as centerpieces Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu deal with the remaining. The staff is in first place for good purpose, and the truth that the Liberty have been in a position to keep their league-leading tempo with out considered one of their key starters speaks to their depth.

Regardless, Saturday’s sport is an effective alternative for the Aces to return out of the Olympic break on the suitable foot. Doing it in opposition to the perfect staff within the league and their largest rival definitely wouldn’t go unnoticed, both.

Lynx search for two in a row in opposition to Mystics

The Minnesota Lynx (18-8) bought again to work of their first post-Olympic sport, defeating the Washington Mystics (6-20) final Thursday in a triumphant return for Crew USA gold medalist Napheesa Collier. Simply two days later, the season sequence shifts to Washington, the place the Lynx will look to maintain up their momentum.

Minnesota has been one of many season’s nice surprises, having fun with an All-WNBA-caliber efficiency from Collier (19.9 factors, 10.3 rebounds and a couple of.2 steals per sport) whereas fielding the WNBA’s finest protection thus far, permitting 93 factors per 100 possessions. Different groups could have extra star energy, however fewer have been extra profitable on the court docket than the Lynx, who’re at the moment in third place within the WNBA standings.

Picture by David Sherman/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

The Mystics have had no such luck within the first yr of a rebuild, one which has been additional hampered by accidents to key gamers in Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin. The duo has performed a mixed 11 video games to date in 2024, although the Mystics bought each gamers again final Thursday in opposition to Minnesota. How Washington chooses to deal with its oft-injured gamers down the stretch of a season during which it’s going to most likely not make the playoffs stays to be seen.

Recreation data

Minnesota Lynx (18-8) vs. Washington Mystics (6-20)

When: Saturday, August 17 at 2 p.m. ET

The place: Leisure and Sports activities Enviornment in Washington, DC

How you can watch: CBS

Lynx harm report:

Mystics harm report: Shakira Austin (possible; hip), DiDi Richards (out; Achilles)

New York Liberty (22-4) vs. Las Vegas Aces (16-8)

When: Saturday, August 17 at 4 p.m. ET

The place: Michelob ULTRA Enviornment in Las Vegas, NV

How you can watch: CBS

Liberty harm report: Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (out; knee)

Aces harm report:

Chicago Sky (10-15) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (6-19)

When: Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m. ET

The place: Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles, CA

How you can watch: WNBA League Go, Spectrum SportsNet, CW 26

Sky harm report: Chennedy Carter (questionable; sickness), Elizabeth Williams (out; knee)

Sparks harm report: Cameron Brink (out; knee), Lexie Brown (out; sickness), Aari McDonald (out; foot), Layshia Clarendon (out; psychological well being)