The defending champion Las Vegas Aces return to action following the WNBA’s World Cup break, facing the Seattle Storm on Thursday with four regular-season games remaining before the playoffs, according to Field Level Media reporting. Las Vegas enters the matchup sitting at 27-13, two games behind Golden State and just one game ahead of both Atlanta and Indiana.
WNBA Playoff Push and Roster Strain After World Cup Break
Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon addressed the physical and mental toll of the international tournament during a recent training session posted on the ESPN Las Vegas YouTube channel. “It’s a funky rhythm for everybody,” Hammon said according to the video. “Everybody’s going to have to kind of just dive right in and hit the ground running.” The Aces had four players participate in the World Cup, including Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young with Team USA, Stephanie Talbot with Australia, and Mai Yamamoto with Japan. Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson did not play for the U.S. due to health concerns.
“Those teams that have multiple people on international teams … nobody cares,” Hammon said in the video. “Nobody feels sorry for us.” Despite the disruption, the Aces carry momentum into the final stretch after winning three straight games prior to the break. Their closing schedule features matchups entirely against teams already eliminated from postseason contention, including two games against Seattle and one apiece against Los Angeles and Phoenix. The Aces won the sole prior meeting against Seattle this season 101-91 on June 8.
Pro Tip: Tracking end-of-season rest schedules and international travel fatigue provides critical insight into late-season WNBA betting odds and playoff seeding outcomes.
Seattle Storm Roster Challenges and Injury Updates
The Seattle Storm enter the contest at 8-32, having dropped four of their last five games under first-year coach Sonia Raman. The team’s youthful frontcourt featured heavily in the World Cup, with French forward Dominique Malonga and Spanish forward Awa Fam both averaging double-digit scoring, according to Field Level Media. However, Australian center Ezi Magbegor suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during international play and remains sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Adding to the Storm’s roster hurdles, the franchise announced during the World Cup break that wing Katie Lou Samuelson will miss the rest of the season following arthroscopic left knee surgery. Raman previously described her developing frontcourt core as “a work in progress,” a sentiment compounded by the heavy structural losses heading into the final games of the year.
Did You Know? The Las Vegas Aces won three consecutive games immediately before the league paused for the World Cup tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Las Vegas Aces play next?
The Aces return from the World Cup break to play the Seattle Storm on Thursday, with four games remaining in the regular season.
Which Aces players participated in the World Cup?
According to Field Level Media, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young played for Team USA, Stephanie Talbot represented Australia, and Mai Yamamoto played for Japan.
What injuries have impacted the Seattle Storm?
Center Ezi Magbegor suffered a torn ACL during the World Cup, and wing Katie Lou Samuelson underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery during the break, ruling both out for the rest of the season.
Where can I watch coach Becky Hammon’s pre-game remarks?
Coach Becky Hammon’s comments regarding the team’s return from the break were published in a video on the ESPN Las Vegas YouTube channel.
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