Las Vegas Aces still favorites for WNBA title despite Candace Parker injury
Starting forward Candace Parker is out indefinitely with a left foot injury, but the defending champion Las Vegas Aces remain -300 favorites to win the 2023 WNBA championship.
Parker won two NCAA women's championships at Tennessee before being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 1 pick in the 2008 WNBA draft.
In 13 seasons in Los Angeles, Parker was a two-time WNBA MVP and led the Sparks to the WNBA championship in 2016.
Parker spent the past two seasons with the Chicago Sky, winning another WNBA championship in 2021.
The 37-year-old Parker signed a one-year contract with the Aces in the offseason to help them defend their title. There was speculation that she would retire after last season, but she believes she can still perform at a high level. This season marks Parker's 16th year with the Aces.
Parker undergoes surgery
Parker has been plagued by foot injuries all season. She tried to kick the ball with her injured left foot. After missing five games, Parker consulted with team doctors and ultimately decided to undergo surgery.
"I will work hard to get healthy as soon as possible," Parker said on social media. "For my teammates, for my circle, for my family, and for myself."
Parker has played in 18 games this season, averaging 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She is the Aces’ fifth-leading scorer. She averaged 13.3 points per game in two seasons as a role player in Chicago and played a crucial role in the 2021 championship season.
"It's unfortunate, so there's more pressure on others to follow in those footsteps," head coach Becky Harmon said. "There's no question that we miss her voice, her presence, because she certainly had a lot of energy as well."
The Aces hope Parker can return in time for the WNBA postseason, which begins Sept. 13.
Center Kian Stokes has started six games for the Aces this season in place of Parker. Stokes has been a member of the Aces' staff the past three seasons, starting four games last year. Stokes has played in 24 games this season, averaging 2.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Veteran forward Alyssa Clark joins the Aces this season to bolster their bench. She is the sixth woman to earn the honor this season, averaging 6.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.4 rebounds off the bench.
Clark and Stokes will get a boost by replacing Parker in the lineup within minutes. If Hammon wants to play in a small-ball lineup, leading scorer A'ja Wilson could get playing time in the midfield.
Sin City Undefeated Ace
The Aces are the WNBA's best team this season at 22-2 and remain undefeated at home in Las Vegas with a perfect 11-0 record.
The Aces are four games ahead of the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun in the standings.
The Aces started the season with a 7-0 record but lost their first game on the road against the Suns in early June. They responded to the loss with nine straight wins to start the season with a 16-1 record.
The Aces are on a winning streak again after losing to the Dallas Wings in early July. They've won six straight after defeating the Sky on Tuesday night in Chicago.
The WNBA season now has 40 games. The Aces have 16 games remaining, including three against Liberty.
The Aces complete a tough four-game road trip and maintain their recent winning streak. They return to Las Vegas and play two home games, starting Sunday against the Wings and ending Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream.
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Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis purchased the Aces in 2021. Davis sold part of Tom Brady's Aces in March, before the star quarterback purchased a minority stake in the Raiders after retiring from the NFL.
The Aces won the WNBA Championship last year, and Las Vegas celebrated its first major sports championship with a memorable parade. During the offseason, bullying in the locker room surfaced.WNBA head coach Becky Hammon was suspended two games for bullying a pregnant player. Despite the offseason headlines, the Aces are on a mission to successfully defend their title.
The Aces are the consensus favorite to win the 2023 WNBA championship at -300 odds, according to DraftKings. Second-place Liberty (17-5) is the closest competitor at +300.
The Connecticut Sun (+200), Dallas Wings (+3500) and Washington Mystics (+4500) round out the top five favorites.
The Suns, who play their home games at the Mohan Sun Casino, are 18-6 and currently ranked third. The Aces lead the Suns by four games.
The Wings are in fourth place with a 13-10 record and are one of only two teams to defeat the powerful Aces this season.
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Source: www.casino.org
