Aces coach benches three starters in nationally televised game amid back-to-back schedule concerns

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon started a lineup without A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young in a nationally televised match against the New York Liberty, citing player health and the tight back-to-back road schedule.

During a nationally broadcast WNBA contest between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty in Brooklyn, coach Becky Hammon opted to start a lineup that excluded four-time MVP A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, replacing them with Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans and Brianna Turner, none of whom entered the game beyond cheering. The Aces were defeated 111-71, and Hammon explained the move as a health-first approach after a Saturday road game that left the team with less than the league’s stipulated rest period.

She noted that the back-to-back schedule, with the Aces playing at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and again at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, created a risk she was unwilling to take. The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement requires “reasonable and good faith efforts” to provide at least 20 hours between such games, and a guideline of 22 hours when travel does not cross more than one time zone. Hammon added that protecting players from injury is essential, even in high-profile televised matchups.

Liberty forward Jonquel Jones acknowledged the Aces’ decision but expressed a desire to compete against the full roster. The incident highlights ongoing debates over scheduling and player welfare as the league expands its season.