The Chicago Sky return home to Wintrust Arena on Monday night to host the Las Vegas Aces. Chicago enters with a 9-27 record while Las Vegas sits at 24-14, just a half-game behind Atlanta for second place in the Western Conference. The Aces bring a 10-game winning streak into this matchup, the longest active run in the WNBA.
This will be the first of three meetings between these two teams over a 16-day span. Their last matchup came on September 3, 2024, when the Aces rolled to a 90-71 win. Chicago has managed some upsets this season, including a recent road victory at New York, but they have dropped 14 of their last 16 games heading into this contest.
Aces Preview – Wilson Leading a Title Push
The Las Vegas Aces are peaking at the right time. They have won 10 straight games since an early August loss to Minnesota and are looking to lock up a top seed for the postseason. During this run, they have beaten teams by double digits in four different games.
A’ja Wilson is playing at an MVP level. She scored 36 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win over Washington on Saturday, marking her 19th double-double of the season. Over her last five games, she is averaging 30.2 points, and she has averaged nearly 14 rebounds across her last eight outings.
Supporting Wilson, Jackie Young continues to be steady in the backcourt, averaging double figures and adding playmaking. Chelsea Gray runs the offense and had eight assists in the last game despite scoring only five points. Kelsey Plum remains a shooting threat, while the bench has given solid minutes from guards like Kierstan Bell.
Defensively, the Aces are ranked among the top in blocks, averaging 4.7 per game, and they are second in steals at 7.3 per game. They are also holding teams to just 43% shooting from the field, which ranks ninth but has improved during their winning streak. With their balanced play on both ends, Las Vegas is looking like a title contender again.
Sky Preview – Trying to Stay Competitive
The Chicago Sky have struggled most of the season, but they continue to show flashes of fight. Their last two games highlight the inconsistency. They upset New York 91-85 on the road but then lost 94-84 at home to last-place Connecticut. The Sky trailed by 21 in that game before cutting it to four, but they could not complete the comeback.
Rookie Angel Reese is back in the lineup after missing time with a back injury. She posted 11 points and 11 rebounds against the Sun, giving her a third straight double-double since returning. Reese leads the team with 12.2 rebounds per game and is averaging 14.5 points.
Kamal Cardoso was the Sky’s top scorer in their last game, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds. Ariel Atkins added 12 points while Myisha Onyenwere and Rachel Banham provided supporting minutes. With Courtney Vandersloot out for the season, Chicago has lacked veteran guard stability, which has hurt their late-game execution.
Defensively, the Sky have allowed 86.4 points per game, the third-worst mark in the league. Opponents are shooting 45.1% against them, and Chicago ranks near the bottom in steals and assists-to-turnover ratio. They will need to improve defensively to slow down Wilson and the Aces’ offense.
Head-to-Head Matchup
Las Vegas has dominated this series recently. The Aces are 9-1 in their last 10 meetings with the Sky. Six of those wins have been by double digits, including three last season.
Chicago did manage to push Las Vegas in a 77-75 loss last August at home, but since then the Aces have controlled the matchup. With Wilson at her best and Chicago shorthanded, the Sky will need a near-perfect performance to keep the game close.
Betting Prediction
The Aces are listed as -10.5 favorites with the total set at 163.5. Las Vegas is 19-18-1 against the spread this season, while Chicago is just 15-21. The Aces have covered in six of their last 10 games and are playing their best basketball of the season.
Chicago will honor Candace Parker on Monday by retiring her jersey, which could provide an emotional boost. However, the Sky have lost 14 of their last 16 and continue to struggle defensively. Las Vegas should be able to handle this matchup comfortably behind Wilson’s dominance. A projected score is 87-74 in favor of the Aces, with Las Vegas covering the spread.
Pick: Las Vegas -10.5
