Reigning Champs Got Blown Out 99-66 and Becky Hammon Isn't Hiding the Problem

The Las Vegas Aces are the defending WNBA champions. They just got absolutely demolished by the Phoenix Mercury 99-66 in their season opener. And their coach isn't pulling any punches about why it happened.

Becky Hammon didn't mince words after the loss. "I don't think we're in good enough shape to play at the level that we need to," she said. The real issue? Defense. "The defense, it looks like we haven't worked on it. We've been doing it an hour-and-a-half every day in practice," Hammon explained. "The little details that we talk about that are separation factors, we're not doing them. And until we decide we want to do them, we'll continue to get our butt kicked like this."

The Numbers Don't Lie

Saturday's disaster exposed some brutal defensive breakdowns. The Aces gave up 11 three-pointers on just 24 attempts, meaning the Mercury hit 45.8% from deep. That's a massive problem when you remember that Las Vegas was one of the WNBA's best 3-point defenses last year, holding opponents to just 31.6% from distance.

On the offensive end, things weren't much better. A'ja Wilson, the four-time MVP, managed just 19 points. Jackie Young chipped in 12. The offense couldn't find any rhythm or consistency around their best player.

The Sparks Are a Different Beast Now

Now the Aces head to Los Angeles to face the Sparks, who are tipping off their season on Sunday. The good news for Vegas? The Sparks had the worst defense in the WNBA last year, giving up 88.2 points per game and allowing a league-worst 10.1 three-pointers a game.

But here's the thing: Los Angeles has made some serious moves. They added veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike, the 2016 MVP who averaged 18.3 points and seven rebounds a game last season. They also have Dearica Hamby, a former Aces player, who put up 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds last year. Plus, they've got Cameron Brink, the 2024 No. 2 overall pick, who brings defensive upside even though injuries have limited her floor time so far in her career.

Kelsey Plum, who won championships with Las Vegas in 2022 and 2023 before signing with the Sparks, sees the vision. "I don't think that last year I realized how big of a decision I made," she told the LA Times. "When Nneka signed this year, I was like, 'OK, I'm not crazy. They're seeing the vision I am seeing.'"

The Aces need to fix those defensive breakdowns fast, or Sunday could get ugly again.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.