Becky Hammon rips 'soft' Aces after blowout loss to Valkyries - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — The Las Vegas Aces are in unfamiliar territory.

Saturday's 95-68 loss to the Golden State Valkyries marked the third-largest loss for the Aces (4-3) in the Becky Hammon era. It was also their second 20-point loss this season, the first time they've had more than one in a season under Hammon.

«What is out there, that's not an Aces team we are used to seeing,» Chelsea Gray said. «We are trying to figure it out in our locker room, in our meetings.… It's uncharted territory right now that we have not seen this side or played like this since we've been together and played under Becky.»

The Valkyries set the tone early, primarily through their defense. They forced A'ja Wilson into three first-quarter turnovers, and the Aces had seven as a team, both season highs.

Up by two points after the first quarter, Golden State led by 21 at halftime after outscoring Las Vegas 34-15 in the second quarter. It was the second time this season the Aces have trailed by at least 20 points at the half, the other coming against the Seattle Storm in a game they lost by 20.

The common denominator, Hammon said, was the Aces' lack of effort.

«It's us being soft mentally and letting people punk us… and whining instead of buckling down and saying, 'OK, if that's what it's going to be, let's go,'» Hammon said. «I told them effort has to come from your heart. The schemes, the discipline, the habits — that's your head. Right now we not only have a heart issue, but it's [becoming] a head issue.

»I'm not going to coach effort. It's one thing I can't deal with. You are in charge of your effort.… I've never been a coach to pull for mistakes, but I will pull for effort."

Wilson, the reigning league MVP, was held to eight first-half points and