Photo credit: Shawn McCullough (Sports Radio Service)

By Shawn McCullough

Head coach Bill Laimbeer was not happy with the effort of his team.

A’ja Wilson and Angel McCoughtry combined for 35 points but lost to the Phoenix Mercury, 102-95, at the IMG Bubble in Bradenton, FL.

“The effort that we put forth was unacceptable,” said Laimbeer.  “They didn’t bring the intensity necessary in this league to win games.”

The Aces got down 23 points in the 2nd quarter and rallied back, but allowed the Mercury to shoot 57.6% from the field.

“My basketball teams will not play like that.  We will play as hard as we can every second that we are on the floor and if we had, we would have won this basketball game,” said Laimbeer.

Despite scoring 17 points in the game, Wilson was very hard on herself for her performance.

“I went 7 for 19, that is unacceptable for me,” said Wilson.  “I take full accountability of that.  I have to be there for my team, knock down my shots and I was just not focused.”

The Aces finished  in fourth in the WNBA standings last year and Laimbeer believes that they will probably finish around the same or lower this season.

“Are we going to be the top one or two teams in this league?  I don’t think so,” said Laimbeer.  “I see us fighting for a playoff spot, hopefully four, but maybe five, six, seven or eight.”

With the loss, the Aces fell to 1-2 heading into their next game on Sunday against the Dallas Wings.

Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com

Game Notes:

• The Aces shot 45.7% from the field and went 7 for 14 from 3-point range.
• Five Aces players scored in double figures (Wilson, McCoughtry, McBride, Rodgers and Hamby)
• Guard Lindsay Allen was held out of tonight’s game due to the third-year guard registering an “inconclusive positive result” from a COVID-19 test Thursday evening. She will be isolated off campus until testing negative twice before returning.

Game Starters:

F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 35 Angel McCoughtry
C – 4 Carolyn Swords
G – 3 Danielle Robinson
G – 21 Kayla McBride