The Las Vegas Aces have moved into control of the Western Conference race in the Commissioner’s Cup after a statement win over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night. The victory improved the Aces to 5-0 in Cup play and put them one win away from clinching a berth in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game. They can secure that spot by defeating the Dallas Wings on Monday night.
Dallas, meanwhile, saw its own Cup hopes weakened by a loss to the Portland Fire, a defeat that came without Paige Bueckers, who is dealing with an ankle sprain and remains questionable for Monday’s game. The Wings now have two Cup losses, making their path to the final much more difficult. Their earlier win over Las Vegas had briefly tightened the race, but the latest results swung the advantage back firmly to the Aces.
Las Vegas enters the matchup riding a six-game winning streak and has emerged as the best offensive team in the league. The Aces are averaging 92.1 points per game and own a 113.4 offensive rating, which would stand as the highest in WNBA history if it holds. That mark would surpass the 113.0 rating the Aces themselves set in 2023. Their offensive surge has been powered by improved ball movement, with the team on pace for a franchise-record 23.3 assists per game. They are also shooting 48.8% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range, both of which would be franchise bests.
A’ja Wilson remains the center of Las Vegas’ success. The reigning star is leading the charge as the league’s most dominant player and one of its most efficient scorers. She, along with Chennedy Carter and Chelsea Gray, has helped fuel a balanced and highly efficient attack. Gray’s long-range shooting has been especially notable, including a nine-3-point performance against the Portland Fire that tied a WNBA record. Even with some inconsistency from Jewell Loyd, the Aces have not been overly dependent on perimeter shooting. Only 28.6% of their points come from beyond the arc, while they average 42 points in the paint, second-most in the league.
The Aces’ ability to create second chances has also been a major factor. They lead the WNBA with 14.8 second-chance points per game and rank among the league leaders in shot volume, taking 70.1 shots per game. That combination of pace, efficiency, and inside scoring has made them difficult to stop, especially in Cup play where they have already beaten strong competition.
Dallas will likely need a strong offensive showing to keep pace, particularly if Bueckers is unavailable or limited. Even then, the Wings’ defense may not be enough to slow Vegas over four quarters. The Aces appear positioned to return to the Commissioner’s Cup final and potentially set up a rematch with the New York Liberty.
