Sky vs Aces: Can Angel Reese Get the Better of MVP Favorite A’ja Wilson? Injury Report, Starting 5, and Prediction

The Chicago Sky will be at loggerheads against the Las Vegas Aces at Wintrust Arena on Thursday. The game is scheduled to begin at 6 PM CT and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video. The Sky have a 6-9 tally whereas the Aces have won 8 matches and lost six. 

The Sky now has battled it out against their opponents with grit and resilience and hence it will be interesting to see what route they take against the last two year’s Champions. The game will largely depend on the star players from both sides and their impact can change the course of the match.

Players to Watch

For the Chicago Sky, the main player to keep an eye on is Chennedy Carter. Carter has performed exceptionally well and has also been dominant on the court which is evident in her on-court tactics. Till now he has scored 14.3 points per game with 2.7 rebounds per match and 2.5 assists per contest. Carter has proven efficient as a team player with her defensive abilities. Therefore, the Aces will try to subdue Carter with their play.

Another player who can steal the show is Angel Reese. Reese is currently the frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award. She has scored 13.2 points per game with 11.1 rebounds per match. If she continues her on-song performances, she will also be a competitor for the MVP award. Hence, Reese needs to be contained if the Aces want to win the match.

For the Aces, their central player is A’ja Wilson. Wilson missed out on getting the MVP last year and hence is redeeming herself of it. As of now, she averages a whopping 27.8 points per game with 11.6 rebounds per match. Wilson will try to decimate the Sky with her offensive tactics and if she gets going, then there is no one stopping the Aces from winning this match.

The other player for the Aces who can take all the limelight is Jackie Young. She stands in second place in terms of points average next to Wilson with 18.2 points per game. She also has 5.9 assists per contest which demonstrates her ability to be a supportive team player whenever the situation demands. The Aces will rely a lot on her and if things go right, she will deliver.

Head to Head

As per AiScore, the Sky and the Aces have clashed against each other 46 times. The games have been equally competitive with the Aces emerging triumphant 26 times whereas the Sky have been victorious 20 times. This time too looking at their lineup the contest can boil down to the last minute. Overall, it will be an exciting game.

Glancing at their previous matchups, the highest points recorded by Las Vegas Aces stands at 107 while for the Chicago Sky, it is placed at 95.

Prediction

The Aces have lost the charm of the previous season as they currently sit on an 8-6 tally. Most of the games in which they have been beaten have been high-scoring. Therefore, the Aces can be defeated by penetrating their defense. Meanwhile, the Sky has had moderate scoring games. It will be an interesting clash since the Sky will try to outdo the Aces with their offensive skills while the Aces will make sure to toughen their wall. 

According to the current record, the game can favor the Aces who have been 2x WNBA Champions for the past two years. The Sky will have to improve on their offensive tactics if they want to have a chance at the outing.

Injury Report

For the Chicago Sky, there are two injuries in Diamond DeShields and Elizabeth Williams. As per Rotowire, DeShields has an ankle injury whereas Williams has a knee injury. 

Meanwhile, in the Aces camp, Kierstan Bell has a lower leg injury and most probably won’t play the match.

Starting 5

Chicago Sky: Marina Mabrey, Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, Chennedy Carter, Dana Evans

Las Vegas Aces: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Alysha Clark

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.