2020 Las Vegas Aces season

Last updated

2020 Las Vegas Aces season
Coach Bill Laimbeer
ArenaOriginally: Mandalay Bay Events Center
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record18–4 (.818)
Place1st (Western)
Playoff finish1st Seed, Lost 0–3 in Finals to Seattle Storm
Team Leaders
Points A'ja Wilson – 20.5 ppg
Rebounds A'ja Wilson – 8.5 rpg
Assists Danielle Robinson – 3.3 apg

The 2020 Las Vegas Aces season was the franchise's 24th season in the Women's National Basketball Association and the third year the franchise is based in Las Vegas - after relocating from San Antonio and Utah. This was the third season under head coach Bill Laimbeer. The regular season tipped off on July 26, 2020 versus the Chicago Sky. [1]

Contents

This WNBA season would’ve had an all-time high 36 regular-season games. [2] However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league began a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, which started on July 24. [4] [5]

The Aces got off to a rough start to their season, losing two of their first three games. However, from there, the team would go on a seven-game winning streak and four game winning streak, only separated by a single loss. Their 12–3 record on August 29, would secure them a playoff berth. They lost on September 1, and that would be their last loss of the season. The Aces finished on a six-game winning streak, including a final day victory over the Seattle Storm to finish 18–4. The victory on the final day of the season secured them the first seed in the playoffs by virtue of a tie-breaker.

As the first seed, the Aces received a double-bye into the Semifinals of the playoffs. In the Semifinals, they played the seventh seeded Connecticut Sun. The Aces lost two of the first three games, but rebounded to win the final two games of the series to advance to the Finals. In the finals they faced the second seeded Storm. The Storm swept the best-of-five series three games to none, and the Aces finished runners up.

Transactions

WNBA draft

The Aces will make the following selection in the 2020 WNBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
333 Lauren Manis Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Holy Cross

Trades and roster changes

DateDetails
February 10, 2020Signed G Angel McCoughtry [6]
February 16, 2020Signed G Danielle Robinson [7]
February 18, 2020Re-signed G Sugar Rodgers [8]
March 2, 2020Re-signed G Lindsay Allen [9]
April 22, 2020Re-signed C Liz Cambage. [10]
May 7, 2020C Park Ji-su will sit out the season and stay in Korea. [11]
May 15, 2020Re-signed G Kelsey Plum. [12]
May 19, 2020Re-signed C Carolyn Swords [13]
June 16, 2020Signed G Alex Bentley [14]
July 4, 2020C Liz Cambage announced that she will be sitting out the 2020 season. [15]
Signed C Avery Warley [16]

Roster

2020 Las Vegas Aces roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 15 Flag of the United States.svg Allen, Lindsay 5' 8" (1.73m)189 lb (86kg)1995-03-20 Notre Dame 2
F 11 Flag of the United States.svg Burdick, Cierra 6' 2" (1.88m)172 lb (78kg)1993-09-30 Tennessee 3
C 8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cambage, Liz 6' 8" (2.03m)216 lb (98kg)1991-08-18 Australia 4
F 32 Flag of the United States.svg Cannon, Emma 6' 2" (1.88m)190 lb (86kg)1989-06-01 Florida Southern 1
F 5 Flag of the United States.svg Hamby, Dearica 6' 3" (1.91m)189 lb (86kg)1993-11-06 Wake Forest 5
G 21 Flag of the United States.svg McBride, Kayla 5' 10" (1.78m)174 lb (79kg)1992-06-25 Notre Dame 6
G/F 35 Flag of the United States.svg McCoughtry, Angel 6' 1" (1.85m)173 lb (78kg)1986-09-10 Louisville 10
G 10 Flag of the United States.svg Plum, Kelsey 5' 8" (1.73m)145 lb (66kg)1994-08-24 Washington 3
G 3 Flag of the United States.svg Robinson, Danielle 5' 9" (1.75m)137 lb (62kg)1989-05-10 Oklahoma 8
G 14 Flag of the United States.svg Rodgers, Sugar 5' 9" (1.75m)137 lb (62kg)1989-12-08 Georgetown 7
C 4 Flag of the United States.svg Swords, Carolyn 6' 6" (1.98m)215 lb (98kg)1989-07-19 Boston College 8
F 22 Flag of the United States.svg Wilson, A'ja 6' 4" (1.93m)195 lb (88kg)1996-08-08 South Carolina 2
G 0 Flag of the United States.svg Young, Jackie 6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)1997-09-16 Notre Dame 1
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Laimbeer (Notre Dame)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Vickie Johnson (Louisiana Tech)
Flag of the United States.svg Tanisha Wright (Penn State)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 18–4
July
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1July 26 Chicago Sky L 86–88 McCoughtry (25) Wilson (11) Allen (7) IMG Academy 0–1
2July 29 Atlanta Dream W 100-70 Wilson (21) Wilson (11)Tied (3)IMG Academy1–1
3July 31 Phoenix Mercury L 95–102 McCoughtry (18) Wilson (8)Tied (4)IMG Academy1–2
August
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4August 2 Dallas Wings W 79–70 Wilson (19)Tied (8) Hamby (4) IMG Academy 2–2
5August 5 Washington Mystics W 83–77 Tied (20) Hamby (13) Robinson (3)IMG Academy3–2
6August 7 Los Angeles Sparks W 86–82 Wilson (26) Wilson (11) McCoughtry (5)IMG Academy4–2
7August 9 New York Liberty W 78–76 Wilson (31) Young (7)Tied (3)IMG Academy5–2
8August 11 Indiana Fever W 98–79 McCoughtry (20) Wilson (11)Tied (4)IMG Academy6–2
9August 13 Minnesota Lynx W 87–77 Wilson (23) Wilson (8) Allen (7)IMG Academy7–2
10August 15 Washington Mystics W 88–73 Young (16) Swords (7) Robinson (7)IMG Academy8–2
11August 18 Chicago Sky L 82–84 McCoughtry (17) Wilson (8)3 tied (4)IMG Academy8–3
12August 20 Connecticut Sun W 99–78 McBride (25) McCoughtry (8) Robinson (9)IMG Academy9–3
13August 22 Seattle Storm W 82–74 Wilson (23)Tied (14) Robinson (7)IMG Academy10–3
14August 25 Dallas Wings W 96–92 Wilson (26) Hamby (14) Young (4)IMG Academy11–3
15August 29 New York Liberty W 80–63 Wilson (20) Hamby (10) Robinson (6)IMG Academy12–3
September
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16September 1 Phoenix Mercury L 85–92 Young (20) Hamby (13) McBride (9) IMG Academy 12–4
17September 3 Connecticut Sun W 93–78 Wilson (24)3 tied (4) Young (9)IMG Academy13–4
18September 5 Atlanta Dream W 89–79 Wilson (21) Hamby (9) Young (6)IMG Academy14–4
19September 8 Indiana Fever W 92–86 Wilson (22) Wilson (16) Young (7)IMG Academy15–4
20September 10 Minnesota Lynx W 104–89 McCoughtry (22) Hamby (11)3 tied (6)IMG Academy16–4
21September 12 Los Angeles Sparks W 84–70 Wilson (19) Wilson (8) McBride (6)IMG Academy17–4
22September 13 Seattle Storm W 86–84 Tied (23) Swords (8) Hamby (8)IMG Academy18–4
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

2020 playoff game log
Total: 3–5
Semifinals
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 20 Connecticut Sun L 62–87 Wilson (19) Wilson (9)Tied (3) IMG Academy 0–1
2September 22 Connecticut Sun W 83–75 Wilson (29) Wilson (7) Young (5) IMG Academy 1–1
3September 24 Connecticut Sun L 68–77 Wilson (20) Wilson (12) Young (7) IMG Academy 1–2
4September 27 Connecticut Sun W 84–75 McCoughtry (29) Wilson (13) McCoughtry (6) IMG Academy 2–2
5September 29 Connecticut Sun W 66–63 Wilson (23) Wilson (11)Tied (4) IMG Academy 3–2
Finals
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1October 2 Seattle Storm L 80–93 McCoughtry (20) Swords (12)Tied (4) IMG Academy 0–1
2October 4 Seattle Storm L 91–104 Wilson (20) McCoughtry (8) Robinson (10) IMG Academy 0–2
3October 6 Seattle Storm L 59–92 Wilson (18) Swords (10) Wilson (4) IMG Academy 0–3
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1x – Las Vegas Aces 184.818–8–2
2x – Seattle Storm 184.818–8–2
3x – Los Angeles Sparks 157.68235–5
4x – Minnesota Lynx 148.63644–6
5x – Phoenix Mercury 139.59154–6
6x – Chicago Sky 1210.54566–4
7x – Connecticut Sun 1012.45587–3
8x – Washington Mystics 913.40996–4
9e – Dallas Wings 814.364101–9
10e – Atlanta Dream 715.318115–5
11e – Indiana Fever 616.273124–6
12e – New York Liberty 220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

Playoffs

First round
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals
Best-of-5
(September 20–29)		 WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
(October 2–11)
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
4 Minnesota Lynx 807 Connecticut Sun 2
5 Phoenix Mercury 855 Phoenix Mercury 791 Las Vegas Aces 0
8 Washington Mystics 842 Seattle Storm 3
2 Seattle Storm 3
3 Los Angeles Sparks 594 Minnesota Lynx 0
6 Chicago Sky 817 Connecticut Sun 73
7 Connecticut Sun 94

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
A'ja Wilson 222231.748.0078.18.52.01.22.020.5
Angel McCoughtry 222220.051.847.188.25.12.51.30.314.4
Dearica Hamby 22028.353.947.471.67.12.71.70.213.0
Kayla McBride 222226.642.534.289.72.32.41.20.112.5
Jackie Young 22025.849.223.185.24.33.00.70.111.0
Danielle Robinson 2217.432.131.375.02.43.30.90.17.4
Sugar Rodgers 22012.032.131.375.01.31.40.30.13.4
Lindsay Allen 212113.541.833.380.01.12.40.303.3
Carolyn Swords 222217.546.0077.34.60.90.20.12.9
Cierra Burdick 1302.228.6000.40.2000.3
Emma Cannon 10000000000

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
A'ja Wilson Western Conference Player of the Week August 10, 2020 [17]
Western Conference Player of the Month – August September 1, 2020 [18]
Bill Laimbeer WNBA Coach of the Month – August [19]
A'ja Wilson Western Conference Player of the Week September 14, 2020 [20]
Western Conference Player of the Month – September September 15, 2020 [21]
Bill Laimbeer WNBA Coach of the Month – September [22]
A'ja Wilson WNBA MVP September 17, 2020 [23]
Dearica Hamby Sixth Woman of the Year September 20, 2020 [24]
Dan Padover Basketball Executive of the Year September 20, 2020 [25]
A'ja Wilson 2nd Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [26]
All-WNBA First Team October 4, 2020 [27]

References

  1. ↑ "2020 Las Vegas Aces Schedule". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Aces Dive Head First Into The Free Agency Pool, Signing Five-Time WNBA All-Star And Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Angel McCoughtry". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Aces Sign Three-Time All-Star Guard Danielle Robinson". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 16, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Las Vegas Re-Signs All-Star Guard Sugar Rodgers". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Aces Re-Sign Guard Lindsay Allen". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. March 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Aces Re-Sign Three-Time All-Star Center Liz Cambage". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Aces' JiSu Park to skip 2020 WNBA season, return to Korea". AP News. May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Las Vegas Aces Re-Sign Guard Kelsey Plum". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Aces Re-Sign Eight-Year WNBA Veteran Carolyn Swords". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Las Vegas Aces Sign All-Star Guard Alex Bentley". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Aces Center Liz Cambage Expected To Miss 2020 WNBA Season". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Aces Sign Center Avery Warley-Talbert". aces.wnba.com. WNBA. July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Wilson, Vandersloot Earn Players Of The Week Honors For Week 2". WNBA.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  18. ↑ "A'ja Wilson, Courtney Vandersloot Named WNBA Players of the Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  19. ↑ "WNBA Names Bill Laimbeer Coach of the Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Hines-Allen, Wilson Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 7". wnba.com. WNBA. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  21. ↑ "WNBA Announces Players Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Bill Laimbeer Earns WNBA Coach Of The Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  23. ↑ "A'ja Wilson Named WNBA Most Valuable Player". wnba.com. WNBA. September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Las Vegas' Dearica Hamby Named 2020 WNBA Sixth Woman Of The Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Las Vegas' Dan Padover Named 2020 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year". wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  27. ↑ "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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