Aces defensive frailties exposed by Dream in second straight defeat

LAS VEGAS – Tuesday night at the raucous Michelob ULTRA Arena started fairly well for the Aces. However, it quickly took a turn for the worse—before going from bad to ugly. The defending WNBA champions suffered consecutive defeats for just the third time this season when the Atlanta Dream handed the Aces a 97-82 loss. Head coach Becky Hammon was ejected midway through the second quarter, and her defensive style failed to materialize. Despite a couple of days off between games, the Aces’ defense deteriorated, with red flags appearing early. The Aces led 25-24 into the second quarter but fell behind heavily in the second half, shooting 53% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line at halftime. Atlanta built a commanding 43-31 lead. After Hammon was suspended for two technicals, the Aces struggled to recover. Atlanta’s starters, including Rhyne Howard (23 points), Angel Reese (21 points, 10 rebounds), and Allisha Gray (21 points), dominated with four starters scoring at least 17 points. The Aces’ defensive struggles were evident, with A’ja Wilson (27 points, 14 rebounds) and others committing turnovers. Wilson shot poorly from the field (7-for-18) and committed five turnovers, while Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray added six more. The Aces’ inefficiency and ball-handling mistakes led to 15 of their 17 turnovers being live-ball turnovers, giving Atlanta easy scoring opportunities. The Aces’ defensive challenge was highlighted by assistant coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson, who noted they failed to lock down opponents effectively. A’ja Wilson’s 27 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists marked her 108th career double-double, nearly matching Tina Charles’ all-time record. However, the Aces’ Achilles’ heel was their defensive lapses, allowing Atlanta to exploit their offensive rhythm. The loss dropped the Aces below the Indiana Fever in the standings, affecting their playoff seeding. Their upcoming game against the Connecticut Sun offers a potential bounce-back opportunity.