Preview: Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty

The Las Vegas Aces renew their rivalry with the New York Liberty, this time with star point guard Chelsea Gray back in the lineup.

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

It’s always a must-watch game whenever the Aces and Liberty play, and the first matchup of the season between the two teams was no different. Back in June, the Liberty outlasted the Aces 90-82, riding a dozen made 3-pointers and a career-high 34 points from center Jonquel Jones to a win in Las Vegas.

Things will look a little different this time around, however, with Chelsea Gray back in the lineup for Las Vegas. The star point guard was still recovering from a foot injury suffered in last year’s WNBA Finals when the Aces lost to the Liberty earlier this season, and while Las Vegas kept the game close against its rival, Gray’s absence was noticeable when it came to the lack of halfcourt playmaking and shooting that only she can provide.

Gray’s return has coincided with an Aces hot streak that has made Las Vegas look much more like the powerhouse that has won two-consecutive WNBA championships than the team that began the 2024 season at 6-6. The Aces have gone 10-2 since then, and while Gray herself is still playing herself back into game shape, her impact on her team has been undeniable. In those 12 games, Las Vegas has had the best offense in the league, scoring 108.8 points per 100 possessions, with Gray’s unrivaled passing further elevating the talents of fellow Aces stars A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum.

Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images

The Liberty, meanwhile, have been without an important player of their own in Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Often considered to be New York’s best defensive player on the perimeter, Laney-Hamilton was also shooting 38 percent on 3-pointers when she underwent a knee procedure that is expected to keep her out through late August. New York still has plenty of perimeter defense, with players like Kayla Thornton and Kennedy Burke stepping up in Laney-Hamilton’s absence as centerpieces Jones, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu handle the rest. The team is in first place for good reason, and the fact that the Liberty have been able to maintain their league-leading pace without one of their key starters speaks to their depth.

Regardless, Saturday’s game is a good opportunity for the Aces to come out of the Olympic break on the right foot. Doing it against the best team in the league and their biggest rival certainly wouldn’t go unnoticed, either.

Lynx look for two in a row against Mystics

The Minnesota Lynx (18-8) got back to work in their first post-Olympic game, defeating the Washington Mystics (6-20) last Thursday in a triumphant return for Team USA gold medalist Napheesa Collier. Just two days later, the season series shifts to Washington, where the Lynx will look to keep up their momentum.

Minnesota has been one of the season’s pleasant surprises, enjoying an All-WNBA-caliber performance from Collier (19.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game) while fielding the WNBA’s best defense to this point, allowing 93 points per 100 possessions. Other teams may have more star power, but fewer have been more successful on the court than the Lynx, who are currently in third place in the WNBA standings.

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

The Mystics have had no such luck in the first year of a rebuild, one that has been further hampered by injuries to key players in Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin. The duo has played a combined 11 games thus far in 2024, though the Mystics got both players back last Thursday against Minnesota. How Washington chooses to handle its oft-injured players down the stretch of a season in which it will probably not make the playoffs remains to be seen.

Game information

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

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

Where: Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC

How to watch: CBS

Lynx injury report:

Mystics injury report: Shakira Austin (probable; 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

Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, NV

How to watch: CBS

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

Aces injury report:

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

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

Where: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA

How to watch: WNBA League Pass, Spectrum SportsNet, CW 26

Sky injury report: Chennedy Carter (questionable; illness), Elizabeth Williams (out; knee)

Sparks injury report: Cameron Brink (out; knee), Lexie Brown (out; illness), Aari McDonald (out; foot), Layshia Clarendon (out; mental health)