LAS VEGAS — The Sky threw everything they had at the Aces on Sunday.
They started the game in man-to-man, switched to zone, doubled A’ja Wilson in the post, switched on screens and fought over them. Interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever even went to his small lineup that had success in the final games of the regular season. In the end, nothing worked.
To hang with the reigning champions requires perfection, and after committing nine turnovers in the first half, it was clear they weren’t capable of it. The Sky’s 92-70 loss in Game 2 eliminated them from the playoffs and ended a season fraught with difficulties.
“You make the best of whatever situation is in front of you,” Kahleah Copper said. “And I think that’s what we did. You can ask me what we can do for next year, but a lot has happened between the beginning of the year and now. So, with what we had, we did the best we could.”
The Sky had to overcome season-ending injuries to Rebekah Gardner and Isabelle Harrison and a midseason coaching change. All of that followed a free-agency period that saw five of the Sky’s stars depart.
The Aces are the standard of excellence in the WNBA, and they steamrolled the Sky in back-to-back games. Their two-game sweep proves just how far the Sky have fallen in a year’s time and how much work lies ahead to make up that ground.
“I can say this season was a good foundation because I’m a winner,” Copper said. “And it was about making the playoffs.”
The Sky had too many empty possessions in Game 2 to beat an average WNBA team, let alone the Aces, who boast the best offense in the league.
Las Vegas had seven steals in the first half and finished with 12. The Aces scored 15 points off 15 Sky turnovers.
It’s a credit to their defense, which once again overpowered the Sky from the start. Their emphasis again was to take Copper out of her game, and they succeeded in the first half.
Her first field goal came midway through the second quarter, a three-pointer from the top of the key.
Copper had 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Dana Evans was the Sky’s most efficient player with 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field in 25 minutes.
As ugly as this game was, the Sky went on a late 19-2 run that closed the deficit to nine with six minutes left.
Aces coach Becky Hammon gathered her team, and its response was immediate. Las Vegas closed the game on a 21-8 run.
Wilson broke the Aces’ mark for points in a playoff game, previously held by Hammon (35), with 38. She also had 16 rebounds and four blocks.
Jackie Young added 15 points, and Alysha Clark had 14 points and six rebounds.
The most immediate question for the Sky to address is who will lead the franchise and start to build a roster around Copper.
Vatansever expressed that he wants to be the man for the job.
“Absolutely [I want to return as coach],” Vatansever said. “This is what I worked for my entire life.”
