The Aces Got to the W.N.B.A. Finals With Physical Play. What Happened?

When the Aces faced elimination in Game 4 of the semifinals against the Connecticut Sun, McCoughtry scored 19 of her 29 points in the second half to help force a decisive Game 5. Now, as Wilson draws multiple defenders against the Storm, players like McCoughtry need to be ready on the perimeter to shoot or make the extra pass and get Seattle’s top-three-ranked defense moving.

McCoughtry set the record for most points in a finals game (38) in 2011 but knows all too well that is not enough to win a championship. In her fourth W.N.B.A finals appearance — her first with Las Vegas — McCoughtry is still without a ring. It will take more than Wilson and McCoughtry to avoid a three-game sweep.

Enter Cannon. In September, she signed with the Aces, who had entered the season without centers Liz Cambage and Ji-Su Park and needed depth. Cannon has played critical minutes for Las Vegas, now missing Dearica Hamby, who was named sixth woman of the year for the second consecutive season but injured her knee during the semifinals. At 6-foot-2, Cannon offers some size when Laimbeer subs her in for the 6-foot-6 starting center Carolyn Swords. With Swords in foul trouble on Sunday, Cannon made the most of her extended minutes.

“We knew that in the first two days we had her she’s not afraid to go out there and do her thing,” Laimbeer said of Cannon. “That’s what she did. She stays with herself, a physical player, and we saw some good post moves which are really needed.”

However, Laimbeer said he is not expecting Cannon to drop another 17 points on Tuesday. So where will the offense come from?

Las Vegas averaged a league low of 11.5 3-point attempts in the regular season. They have shooters like McCoughtry, Sugar Rodgers, and Kayla McBride who can get hot from the perimeter. Las Vegas may want to try to get shots from them from distance early in Game 3.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/05/sports/basketball/wnba-finals-storm-aces.html