The Las Vegas Aces, a top team in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), played a nationally televised game against the New York Liberty on Sunday. However, Aces coach Becky Hammon made a surprising decision to bench her three usual starters, citing concerns over player health and safety due to the team’s back-to-back games on the road.

Coach Hammon’s Decision

Hammon did not play four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, or Jackie Young, instead opting for Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans, and Brianna Turner. This decision was likely a protest against the WNBA’s scheduling, which had the Aces playing two games in less than 24 hours. The team had played the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, with Wilson, Young, and Gray all playing their usual workloads.

Hammon defended her decision, stating that the health and safety of her players come first. She also mentioned that the team had been expending a lot of energy and traveling a lot, which made it necessary to rest her starters. The Aces lost the game to the Liberty 111-71, but Hammon’s decision may have been a strategic move to prioritize her team’s well-being in the long run.

WNBA Scheduling Guidelines

The WNBA has guidelines in place to ensure that teams have sufficient rest time between games. According to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, teams should have at least 20 hours between the start of their first game and the start of their second game in a back-to-back scenario. However, the Aces’ schedule had them playing two games in less than 22 hours, which may have prompted Hammon’s decision to bench her starters.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.