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WNBA News: Aces forfeit Aug. 3 game against Mystics after cancellation

By Joseph Zucker

UNCASVILLE, CT - AUGUST 5: Kayla McBride #21, Kelsey Bone #3 and Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces look on during the game against the Connecticut Sun on August 5, 2018 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT - AUGUST 5: Kayla McBride #21, Kelsey Bone #3 and Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces look on during the game against the Connecticut Sun on August 5, 2018 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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WNBA announces forfeit; Aces fall to 12-16

The Las Vegas Aces have forfeited their game with the Washington Mystics that was originally scheduled for Aug. 3, the WNBA announced Tuesday.

Mechelle Voepel of espnW shared a statement about the decision from WNBA President Lisa Borders:

"We worked extensively with both the Aces and Mystics to come up with a workable solution. In the end, given the limited number of days remaining in the season and arena availability, we decided to delay the start of the game until 8 p.m. to give the Aces as much time as possible between arrival in Washington, D.C. and tipoff. While not ideal, it was the best available solution to accommodate both our fans and the scheduling challenges. Since the Aces chose not to play, the result is a forfeit."

The move comes after the Aces declined to play the Mystics last Friday, citing their long journey to Washington, D.C., and short turnaround time to get ready for the game. Multiple players had detailed their lengthy delay en route to the nation’s capital:

While sympathizing with Vegas’ situation, High Post Hoops’ Lindsay Gibbs thought a forfeit was the most fair conclusion:

The Aces’ forfeit means they fall two games back of the eighth-place Dallas Wings. That leaves Las Vegas with little margin for error over its final six games of the regular season.

Since the WNBA draft lottery is based on a team’s two-year cumulative record, the forfeit will improve the Aces’ odds of landing the top draft pick, assuming they miss the postseason. According to The Sky Show CHI, Las Vegas was a 27.6 percent chance of selecting first overall, second-best behind the Indiana Fever (44.2 percent).

Getting the win is big for the Mystics as well.

Washington moves into a tie with the Los Angeles Sparks for the third-best record in the WNBA (17-11). The two teams split their first two head-to-head meetings, with the rubber match to come Aug. 17.

The Mystics are now within a game of the second-place Atlanta Dream, too, as they look to receive a bye until the WNBA semifinals.

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