The Aces secured their fifteenth consecutive win when they beat the Chicago Sky 92-61. With only a handful of games left in the season, the Aces will enter the playoffs as the second or third seed. They successfully turned around a season that seemed to be heading towards a disappointing end just two months ago.
The Aces put themselves in a great position heading into the playoffs. No team will want to face Las Vegas, especially since the roster just got another boost.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus played her first game in an Aces uniform. Parker-Tyus was one of the Aces’ big free agency additions, but didn’t suit up for most of the regular season because she gave birth on July, 1. Just about two months later, Parker-Tyus is officially back on the court. Returning so quickly is a huge achievement on its own, but the veteran also played well.
Parker-Tyus had a productive game off the bench
Parker-Tyus played eight minutes off the bench in her Aces debut. She made the most of her limited time on the court, displaying her ability as a scorer. Parker-Tyus finished the game with eight points on 3-5 shooting from the field and logged a positive plus/minus of 6.
It was an incredibly impressive and efficient performance for someone who gave birth just two months ago and has been caring for a newborn ever since.
Becky Hammon also praised Parker-Tyus after the game. “She was awesome,” Hammon said. “It’s remarkable for her to be out there.”
Parker-Tyus boosts the Aces’ frontcourt rotation
A lack of frontcourt production outside A’ja Wilson was one of the Aces’ big issues at the start of the season. Trading for NaLyssa Smith and starting her next to Wilson solved a lot of those issues. Megan Gustafson is also back on the court after missing the start of the season with a leg injury.
Parker-Tyus adds even more depth and scoring to the Aces’ frontcourt. Just two seasons ago, Parker-Tyus averaged 15 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks over 40 games with the Atlanta Dream. While Aces fans should expect her to put up those kinds of numbers quite yet, it highlights her ability to impact games in pretty much every area.
The Aces hope to go on a deep playoff run. Having reserves that Becky Hammon can trust to impact games even in short stints will be invaluable in the postseason. Parker-Tyus showed that she could be that kind of player in her first game back, and she will only get better the more time she spends on the court after such a lengthy and demanding absence.