Becky Hammon defends load management even if Aces have to ‘take the L’ vs. Liberty
nytimes.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The Las Vegas Aces rested key starters A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young in a nationally televised game against the New York Liberty, resulting in a 111-71 loss, as part of a load management strategy after a taxing road trip and back-to-back games.
- Coach Becky Hammon emphasized player health and safety over immediate results, acknowledging the importance of managing fatigue amid the WNBA’s expanding schedule, which has grown to 44 games this season and will increase to 50 games in 2027.
- The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement now requires at least 20 hours between back-to-back games, with teams limited to travel across one time zone, but the Aces faced a tight turnaround with less than 24 hours between games and significant travel.
- New York Liberty capitalized on the Aces' depleted lineup, with Marine Johannes scoring a career-high 27 points off the bench, leading the Liberty to a dominant victory and a rise to sixth place in the standings.
- The Aces, now third in the league, face a challenging playoff outlook, potentially meeting the Liberty in the first round, highlighting the competitive implications of resting key players during the regular season.
