In what can only be described as a 3-point clinic, the Minnesota Lynx steamrolled the Las Vegas Aces with a record-breaking 53-point road win this past Saturday. Kayla McBride's sharpshooting led the Lynx as she drained a staggering 8 three-pointers to propel her team to an eye-popping 111-58 victory. According to a report from The Associated Press, the Lynx's dominance was apparent from early on with a 35-17 advantage after just one quarter.
The performance was not just a show of offensive firepower, as the Lynx capped off their fiery first half, going 13 for 14 on 3s to lead 67-33. Although McBride's success rate from the arc tapered in the second half, missing both of her attempts, her 24 points ultimately proved more than enough. The Lynx, now sitting comfortably at the top of the league with a 24-5 record, also set a new team record with 17 successful shots from beyond the arc on 27 attempts, as quoted by the Aces' official post-game recap. Minnesota's previous record for a road win margin had been held since 1998 by the Houston Comets.
The Lynx didn't just outshoot the Aces, they outplayed them in almost every facet of the game. Dominating the boards with a 45-22 rebounding advantage, the Lynx also made sure to capitalize on Las Vegas' mistakes, turning 16 turnovers into 23 points. "The Aces gave up 23 points off 16 turnovers and flipped Minnesota's 12 TOs into 9 points," the Aces noted, highlighting a sliver of the struggle that characterized much of their game.
On the Aces' side, their loss had them drop back to a .500 record of 14-14. Jewell Loyd led their scoring with 12 points, while A'ja Wilson added 10 points before the Las Vegas team ultimately succumbed to the pressure and depth of the Lynx squad. With the Aces' next game against the Golden State Valkyries looming, they'll be looking for a quick turnaround to recover from this historic defeat. In terms of milestones, Loyd is currently just a few points shy of rising in the WNBA's all-time scoring list, looking to surpass figures such as Brittney Griner and Becky Hammon with her next on-court performance.
Now, following their record-setting win, the Lynx prepare to face a tough opponent in Seattle on Tuesday, as they eye further dominance in the league. The Aces, meanwhile, have to regroup and refocus, as back-to-back games present both a challenge and an opportunity to bounce back in the face of adversity.
