Megan

DiLeo

Wilson began the game not her most efficient. She went into halftime shooting 5-of-13 from the field and only scoring 14 points off those 13 shots. But a switch flipped for Wilson after halftime where she scored 13 points in the third quarter and then six more in the fourth while shooting 8-of-12 from the floor in the final quarters of the game prior to overtime. When Wilson’s shot wasn’t falling she notably made sure to find teammates for better looks. She looked for an open Megan Gustafson on both a kick out three-pointer and a high-low action. Her other three assists were to Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Speaking of Young, she and Wilson made history becoming the first pair of teammates in WNBA history to score at least 30 points during the same postseason game.

Smith returned to the Aces lineup after sitting out Sunday’s win over Chicago. With Tuesday’s rematch being a blowout, she only logged 23 minutes and finished a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Megan Gustafson, who started on Sunday, only played three minutes while Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Kiah Stokes logged eight apiece. Depending on what Atlanta does in its game against Connecticut on Wednesday, the Aces will know whether they need to beat the Sparks on Thursday to secure the two seed for the playoffs. If Atlanta loses, Gustafson, Parker-Tyus and Stokes could handle most of the rotation minutes in Los Angeles.

After sitting out Sunday’s win over the Sky, Smith has cleared concussion protocols and will play in Tuesday’s rematch. Her return means Megan Gustafson heads back to the bench, where he streaming value takes a significant hit.

Smith was held out of Sunday’s win over the Sky, with Megan Gustafson logging 17 minutes as her replacement in the starting lineup. While Smith is questionable for Tuesday’s rematch, she remains in concussion protocol, which is not good news regarding her availability. Gustafson may make another start if Smith sits, but this would also mean more playing time for Kiah Stokes off the bench.

Gustafson will make her first start of the season, replacing NaLyssa Smith (concussion) in the Aces’ opening lineup. Gustafson began the season sidelined with a leg injury, but returned in early July and has posted averages of 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks in the 17 games she’s appeared in. With her promotion to the starting unit on Sunday, Kiah Stokes figures to be a reserve player who could see more action as the Aces look to win their 14th straight game and reclaim the second spot in the WNBA standings.

The veteran center will miss her first game of the season on Sunday. After starting the first part of the season, Stokes has mostly come off the bench following the team’s trade for NaLyssa Smith. Her absence will leave the Aces’ frontcourt depth a bit thinner, and Megan Gustafson will likely play a big role off the bench vs. Dallas.

Stokes starts for the Aces in place of A’ja Wilson following the right wrist sprain she sustained on Tuesday night against the Liberty. Aces head coach Becky Hamon explained pregame on Thursday night that there’s no timeline for Wilson’s return. Stokes last started for the Aces on June 29 just a day before the team traded for power forward NaLyssa Smith. Also, expect center Megan Gustafson to get some extended run on Thursday night in her season debut coming off a lower left leg injury.

Parker-Tyus is away from the team as she is pregnant with her second child. The 11th-year pro inked a deal with Las Vegas in February after being reduced to primarily a reserve role in her final season with the Dream, but is not far removed from a career-best 2023 season where she averaged 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over 40 games (38 starts). Parker-Tyus’ eventual debut will be a welcome one for an Aces team already thin in the frontcourt, with Megan Gustafson (leg) out. Aside from A’ja Wilson logging more minutes, center Kiah Stokes should see even more action than usual, with Elizabeth Kitley potentially earning opportunities.

Gustafson, who’s entering her seventh WNBA season, suffered a lower left leg injury during practice on April 28. While the Aces have not provided specifics, the veteran center will be out indefinitely. Gustafson provided depth off the bench last season, averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game in 38 appearances. Queen Egbo and Elizabeth Kitley should receive more opportunities during training camp behind perennial MVP candidate A’ja Wilson.