Aces outmuscle Japan en route to impressive 94-78 victory in exhibition

The deciding factor was as simple as it was effective: being the more physical side. Even without A’ja Wilson available, the Aces were still able to prove their dominance on the interior and keep Japan honest when they tried to move towards the basket. The results were a defensive masterclass when it came to making plays, particularly with 101 blocks on the day (NaLyssa Smith and Brianna Turner tied for the team lead with three, while Chelsea Gray contributed two).

The Aces also put together nine steals as a team, lead by Jackie Young with three and Gray with two. “They’re probably not as big as other W teams, which made them very difficult to kind of guard and contain on the perimeter, but makes it a little bit more manageable when they're at the rim,” said Aces head coach Becky Hammon about her team’s physicality. “We just have a lot of size and length at the end of day.

We always like our rim protection, whether that's [NaLyssa Smith] there. [Brianna Turner] had a couple blocks tonight, so just being really disciplined, knowing when to jump, because I don't really teach jumping on closeouts and all that stuff's on the perimeter. You know, we got to jump second at the rim.

That's a different kind of contest. And I think, you know, a couple of our players just have really good timing in that way. ” “I just think my athleticism, being able to be explosive and just see the ball when it comes off the rim, but then also just watching and seeing what the team needed,” said guard Chennedy Carter, who contributed to the physical style of play with five rebounds and a block of her own.