Aces' Jewell Loyd doubtful for Game 2 after night workout goes wrong
Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd is doubtful for Wednesday's playoff game against the Golden State Valkyries, according to sports.yahoo.com, after a left leg injury sustained in the third quarter of Sunday's Game 1 loss kept her from returning to the floor.
Head coach Becky Hammon told media Tuesday the team didn't yet have a report on Loyd. "We're trying to ramp them up, but now we've got to see how they feel and recover off of this little workout," Hammon said.
A few hours later, Loyd was listed as doubtful, per the source, suggesting she didn't handle the afternoon workout well.
The exact severity of Loyd's injury and her final availability for Game 2 are not confirmed. The Aces trail the best-of-five series 1-0 and face a must-win situation Wednesday.
WHAT HAPPENED IN GAME 1
Loyd’s night ended in the third quarter of Sunday’s Game 1 loss to the Valkyries, when she injured her left leg and could not return. The exact moment and mechanism of the injury are not detailed in the source.
Before she went down, Loyd had missed both of her attempts from beyond the arc. She still logged 17 minutes, finishing with two rebounds and an assist.
With Loyd out, the Aces turned to guard Mai Yamamoto for extra run. Yamamoto played 19 minutes, well above her 15.1 average, but managed just two points and an assist in the loss.
Las Vegas now trails the best-of-five series 1-0, with Game 2 carrying must-win weight.
THE NUMBERS
Loyd's season averages don't jump off the page — 8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. But the minutes tell the real story. She averaged 25.9 per game, a significant role for a team already thin in the backcourt.
That workload matters now. In Game 1, Loyd played 17 minutes before the injury, finishing with two rebounds and an assist while missing both of her three-point attempts. The production was modest, but the floor time was the point — every minute she gives keeps the Aces' rotation from stretching too thin.
With Loyd out, that pressure lands on players like Yamamoto. She logged 19 minutes in Game 1, above her 15.1 season average, and managed just two points and an assist. The Aces need more from that slot if Loyd can't go.
The margin for error is already small. Las Vegas trails the best-of-five series 1-0, and Wednesday's Game 2 carries must-win weight. A shorthanded backcourt only tightens that margin further.
THE REACTION
Hammon spoke to the media earlier Tuesday and said the team didn't yet have a report on Loyd. "We're trying to ramp them up, but now we've got to see how they feel and recover off of this little workout."
A few hours later, Loyd was listed as doubtful. That timing suggests the afternoon workout did not go well, according to sports.yahoo.com.
Loyd isn't one of Las Vegas' star players, but her absence would still hurt the Aces. The guard averages 8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, and she logged 25.9 minutes per night this season. Las Vegas is already short on backcourt depth, and losing Loyd would stretch that rotation further.
No quotes from Loyd herself or other players are included in the source. Her status may be updated closer to Wednesday's tip-off, but for now the Aces are preparing for a must-win Game 2 without her.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Game 2 tips off Wednesday with the Aces facing the Golden State Valkyries in a must-win situation. Las Vegas trails the best-of-five series 1-0, and another loss would push the defending champs to the brink of elimination.
Loyd's status remains officially doubtful, not confirmed. The same applies to guard Dana Evans (right knee) and forward Steph Talbot (lower left leg), who are both considered questionable. None of the three have been cleared or ruled out, and the Aces have not announced a final decision.
If Loyd can't go, Mai Yamamoto should again see increased minutes. She played 19 in Game 1, above her 15.1 average, finishing with just two points and an assist.
The Aces are already thin in the backcourt. Loyd's 25.9 minutes per game this season show how much the rotation leans on her, even if her scoring numbers — 8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game — don't jump off the page.
Expect an update closer to tip-off. Until then, Las Vegas prepares for a game it can't afford to lose with a lineup that may be missing three rotation players.
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