Las Vegas Aces

With the Las Vegas Aces' season over, keeping free agent Jackie Young after a career year is "a big priority," said Becky Hammon. "Ultimately, it's going to come down to her decision though." A'ja Wilson will stay in Young's ear but knows when to give her space.

A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces is the only WNBA player with five MVPs. On why this one made her cry harder: "15-year-old A'ja wasn't sitting up here dreaming about being a 5-time MVP... She was just dreaming about surviving this world."

Kalani Brown may get a bigger role for the Las Vegas Aces. Down 0-2, Becky Hammon went to a two-center lineup and said Brown got Golden State's thin frontcourt in foul trouble. Stephanie Talbot: "Kalani was huge for us inside... We can use her a little bit more."

Stephanie Talbot returned for the Las Vegas Aces in a Game 2 loss to Golden State and leaned on how she closed the year: "I finished the regular season with some momentum and some confidence, and I just tried to bring that into the game."

A'ja Wilson was held to single-digit rebounds as Golden State sent two or three defenders at her. Becky Hammon and Chelsea Gray said the Aces didn't punish it, missing layups they normally make: "They threw 2 or 3 people at her... We missed a lot of open shots."

Jewell Loyd went down mid-game in the Aces' loss. Becky Hammon hadn't spoken to her and gave no status: "I don't know exactly what happened other than some lower leg." With injuries piling up, she said, it's "next woman up."

"Good news is we played like ass and only lost by 10." Becky Hammon on the Aces' loss to Golden State, which she blamed on discipline: "All we talked about for the last 48 hours was rebounding and blocking them out. And we did not do it."

Tired legs, not tactics, drove the late zone defense in Las Vegas's loss to Golden State. Becky Hammon said the Aces went to it "just trying to recoup some legs, I think, with some people playing some high minutes." She didn't say who.

Stephanie Talbot missed the Aces' game, and Becky Hammon doesn't know her status yet: "I'm hoping she should be good for this next series." Until then the focus is "rest and getting healthy." Dana Evans has been out nearly all year; Mai Yamamoto was signed as insurance.

Jewell Loyd started in Stephanie Talbot's place for the Aces and drew Caitlin Clark. Becky Hammon told her three stars to be ready to play all 40, more than she thinks she's ever played her guards. On Jackie Young: "If there's somebody that can do 40, it's her, I promise you."

Defense won it for the Las Vegas Aces, Becky Hammon said after the game. They mixed up coverages and put the emphasis on the 3-point line. She was okay giving up 36 points in the paint, compared with the 58 she recalled from the previous game.

"I prayed a lot. I cried a lot." A'ja Wilson, asked after the Aces' Oct. 1 win whether what happened on Sept. 29 fueled her, said she received a lot of support and did not want it to be a distraction to herself or her team.