The 2025 season is in full swing and the Aces are adjusting their system accordingly. Currently holding a 2-2 record, the Aces are fifth in the Western Conference and eighth league-wide. While the season is picking up, the starting five are making waves, especially the newcomer Loyd.
In her first three games, including pre-season, Loyd started off under her typical pace, scoring wise. She scored 10 points in her pre-season Aces debut, including one 3-pointer, and 11 points in her second game against the Phoenix Mercury.
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The season opener against the New York Liberty proved to be a challenge for not only Loyd, but the team as a whole. The Liberty defense held the Aces to only 13 points in the second quarter, causing them to fall significantly behind. Loyd only had five points when the final buzzer sounded.
“I’m constantly telling her I trust her every single day with every shot she takes,” A’ja Wilson told media postgame. “We’re all gonna do that for her. So I’m sure if you ask her, she’s like, ‘oh my God,’ but I’m not gonna let her dig herself in the hole, because then you lose her.”
Loyd also took a hit to the nose during the game, exiting the game in the third quarter after apparently wiping blood away from her face.
But Loyd quickly bounced back from the hit in their second game against the Connecticut Sun. Her six 3-pointers led to a 20-point game for Loyd and a 25-point win for the Aces. Donning a black face mask, Loyd managed to hit four 3-pointers in a row from beyond the arc.
The “masked Mamba” saved the day in the Aces home opener, as Las Vegas came close to falling to the Washington Mystics. Despite only having nine points, Loyd scored the game-winning 3-pointer with just 1.9 seconds left. Loyd shot 2-for-9 overall, and went 2-for-7 on 3-pointers. She saved the Aces from going into overtime, causing Michelob Ultra Arena to erupt with commotion.
”Everyone’s telling me to keep shooting,” said Loyd. “Right before we got out, [Wilson] was like, ‘shoot the ball.’ I was like, ‘okay.’ And you know, she made a great pass, and I didn’t fade. It was great.”
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The Aces’ most recent game resulted in a 102-82 loss to the Seattle Storm, Loyd’s former team. At the start of the game, Loyd went on a 9-0 run, securing the first points for the Aces, but finished with just 14 points. After this game, Loyd ranks No. 19 in WNBA history for most points, earning a career total of 5,584.
“I feel like I got some looks throughout the game,” said Loyd. “You know, some shots go in, some shots don’t. But staying active, that’s really what I’m trying to focus on, on both ends.”
The Aces are set to take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, May 30. Kelsey Plum makes her anticipated return to Las Vegas since the three-way trade. Tip off starts at 7 p.m. PST. The game will be live on the ION Network.
