Jewell Loyd leads Aces in rout of Valkyries after strong message from A’ja Wilson
Aces coach Becky Hammon was still perturbed by her team’s last showing in the hours leading up to their 101-77 win over the Golden State Valkyries at Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday.
The 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday was the first game of a back-to-back, but Hammon found plenty of time to ruminate on what went wrong in that defeat. She said in her pregame news conference that she’d pulled some statistics from hours of solo film review that she planned to show her players before they took the court against Golden State.
But when she finally had the team gathered in the locker room, she essentially said nothing at all.
“I changed my mind,” Hammon said in explanation of her lack of a pregame speech. “My only comment was, ‘Do I need to say anything?’ and they said no.”
Hammon was able to save her words because reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson had already given the team a stern talking-to.
In the aftermath of the Aces’ historic loss, Wilson texted each of her teammates and told them nothing of the sort could ever happen again.
Guard Jewell Loyd, who said the message from Wilson “sat with” the entire team, went on to lead the Aces in scoring against the Valkyries with a season-high 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting from deep.
Loyd’s performance tied the Aces’ franchise record for 3-pointers made by a player in a single game. The team made 18 of its 40 attempts, also tying the Aces’ single-game record for 3s.
Wilson recorded yet another double-double, tallying 14 points and 14 rebounds to go along with four steals and a block.
“If you weren’t embarrassed from yesterday, then don’t come into this gym. You’re not needed or wanted here,” Wilson said, paraphrasing the message she sent to her teammates. “We need the mindset to shift, because that was embarrassing.”
Wilson also said she communicated in her text that she understands blowout losses happen, but she wanted to understand each of her teammates’ “true feelings” about it.
“If you just think, ‘Oh, that’s the game’ — absolutely not,” Wilson said. “That was my message, that I relate to them and I want to get them to the same mindset that we can all have, that we have to play for each other. It’s gonna take all of us. So, I wanted to make sure that all of us understood that.”
Loyd takes big hit
Loyd had 13 first-half points but almost seemed to reach another gear in the third quarter, closing the period with three 3-pointers in less than two minutes and electrifying the Aces’ bench with each one.
If Loyd needed any extra motivation following Wilson’s message, Valkyries rookie Janelle Salaun provided it in the final seconds of the first half.
As Salaun and Loyd were running to the other end of the court after a defensive rebound from Aces forward Kierstan Bell, Salaun shoulder-checked Loyd and sent her crashing to the court.
Incensed that the officials missed the call, Wilson had to hold Loyd back before the officials reviewed the play and ejected Salaun with a flagrant 2. The Valkyries’ injury report already included four players, including former Aces player Tiffany Hayes (left leg) and the Aces’ home crowd cheered as Salaun’s exit made the opponent even more shorthanded.
Afterward, Loyd noted that Salaun hit her square in the jaw and tried to “walk the other way.”
Loyd’s free throws were followed by a buzzer beater from Bell, and the Aces ended the half with a 50-25 lead.
“I was always taught by Diana Taurasi to never poke the bear,” Loyd said, poking fun at Salaun for the rookie mistake. “That definitely set the tone for us, and they definitely gave us life.”
Loyd said that the referees let the game get out of control, which made it possible for Salaun’s outburst to happen.
Wilson was hit with a technical foul midway through the third quarter. She argued with an official who missed a foul committed against her but then called her for one on the other end.
“We always talk about us getting better,” Wilson said. “Hopefully (the refs) can start playing catch-up in that sense as well.”
Guards all show up
This was Loyd’s fourth game since being moved to the bench for her struggles to score as a starter. She spoke about her rationale behind suggesting the change following her new season high.
“I’m not scared to change things up. I’m not afraid. I have so much confidence in everyone on this roster,” Loyd said. “I just felt like we needed something else, and it allowed us to play the way we’ve been playing.”
The win also marked one of few games this season when all of the Aces’ key guards scored in double figures. Jackie Young scored 20 points and Chelsea Gray added 11.
“It’s about time they come to work,” Wilson joked.
Wilson added that she knows it’s been a frustrating season for all of them, which is why the showing was so important.
“I know it’s not easy doing what they do,” she said. “So, I’m super excited and happy that they’re finally starting to click for us.”
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.
