Coach Becky Hammon is ready for her Las Vegas Aces to get back on the court.
When the Aces open the 2023 WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty on Sunday, it will mark nine days since their last game. By sweeping the Dallas Wings in the semifinal, the Aces afforded themselves a long rest – and Hammon is anxious for it to end.
“I hate waiting that long,” Hammon said to reporters. “As a coach, you just start dicing everything in your head. We could do this. We could do that. And sometimes it’s just, ‘Keep it simple, stupid.’”
Hammon emphasized she does not want to confuse her players.
“What I don’t want to do is bog them down schmetically to where it makes them slow and not reactionary. Our aggression can work in our favor,” she said.
The Liberty, meanwhile, last played Oct. 1. New York coach Sandy Brondello suggested the series could’ve started a couple days earlier.
“Rest is good, but maybe start a little earlier,” Brondello said of the series’ scheduling. “It’s like a marathon just to get this done.”
But there is a silver lining, Brondello said.
“Everyone is going to be rested so fatigue shouldn’t be a big issue. We’l just go out there and lay it all out on the line,” she said.