Aces begin life without NaLyssa Smith against Toronto

The Las Vegas Aces return home Friday night with a different frontcourt and a familiar opponent.

Las Vegas hosts Toronto at 7 p.m. PT at Michelob ULTRA Arena, five days after beating the Tempo 88-78 in Vancouver. The Aces enter 26-13 and have won two straight, while Toronto is 11-27 and dealing with significant personnel losses.

The biggest change for Las Vegas is unavoidable. NaLyssa Smith is out for the season with a left leg injury, forcing Aces coach Becky Hammon to reshape a frontcourt that had been stable for most of the year.

Frontcourt gets a test

Smith started all 38 games she played this season and had become one of Las Vegas’ most efficient players. Her absence creates an immediate question about who starts next to A’ja Wilson and how those minutes are divided.

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Brianna Turner are the clearest internal options. Parker-Tyus offers more offense and rebounding, while Turner brings a stronger defensive profile and another physical presence around the paint.

Parker-Tyus has also shown signs of finding her rhythm after missing time in concussion protocol. She scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Connecticut on Aug. 20, including six offensive rebounds in 15 minutes.

Las Vegas could also use Stephanie Talbot in smaller combinations. However Hammon handles it, Friday offers the first real look at how the Aces plan to cover Smith’s production.

Young keeps doing everything

Jackie Young enters the matchup as one of the most complete guards in the league.

Young is the only WNBA player this season with at least 700 points, 250 assists and 150 rebounds. She is averaging 18.8 points, 6.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds while starting all 38 games she has played.

She has also been productive against Toronto, averaging 22.5 points and 8.5 assists in two meetings this season. With Smith out, Young’s ability to score, create and help on the glass becomes even more valuable.