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By Cassandra Cousineau of LVSportsBiz.com
The Las Vegas Aces took a big step Wednesday toward getting a coveted double bye for the WNBA playoffs Wednesday by shooting the lights out of Michelob Ultra Arena and handling the tough Minnesota Lynx, 102-81.
Led by a red-hot Jackie Young (a sizzling 14 for 19 from the field), the Aces shot 55 percent from the floor as they secured perhaps the most important win of the season before 5,663 fans tonight. Young scored a career high 29 points with a career high in made field goals and field goal attempts.
“Ball and player movement today, that was our goal,” said coach Bill Laimbeer, who appeared satisfied with the performance of his seven-player rotation. “We haven’t won anything yet. It was an important win, but we still have to win two of our next three games.”
With three games left on the 2021 schedule, the Aces control their own destiny. With tonight’s win, Las Vegas needs to win two of their next three against the Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and Phoenix Mercury to garner that double bye.
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The top two seeds in the playoffs get double byes, while the next two seeds get first-round byes. These seedings set up a playoff bracket that clears the way for match-ups throughout the post-season. The league went to the current format of opening with consecutive rounds of single elimination games in 2016. Teams seeded fifth through eighth play a win-or-go-home game in the first round, The winners advance to play the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in another win-or-go-home game in the quarterfinals before finally reaching the semifinals against the top two seeds. Those seeds compete in a best-of-five series.
Laimbeer isn’t a fan of the current format. There are too many variables that impact lower seeded teams. “From a coach’s perspective, I hate it. Anything can happen in a one game scenario. Hopefully, next year or the year after that it will go back to the old way.”
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Guard Chelsea Gray was outstanding as the Aces’ field general, dishing out 14 assists, while defending league MVP A’ja Wilson was her rock-solid, dependable self with 20 points. Center Liz Cambage was out dealing with COVID health and safety protocol issues.
While the Aces’ seed is still to be determined, the team officially clinched a playoff berth when the Phoenix Mercury routed the Liberty 106-79, on New York’s home floor back on August 25. But home court advantage means a bit more in the postseason. The WNBA was the last of the major sports leagues to allow fans access to games.
“We did what we had to do on our home floor. Now it’s on to the next game. The activity of the crowd was a noticeable change to the atmosphere inside of the Mandalay Bay,” Laimbeer said. “Well, that’s what the players are waiting for is more fans. Not only us but all of the franchises. It’s going to be a slow process, but hopefully fans will start to feel more comfortable and venture out. That’s what drives the players, to feed off the emotion of the game.”
The Aces return to action for their final home regular season game on Monday when they play a noon game against the Dallas Wings.