Pissott's Impactful Debut
Justine Pissott's Record-Setting Debut Propels Las Vegas Aces to Historic Rout
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Key Points
1
Indiana could have matched Justine Pissott on a standard contract, but doing so would have required the Fever to waive a rostered player, a cost Indiana chose not to incur.
2
Pissott's debut featured five 3-pointers, setting a WNBA record for the most 3-pointers made in a debut.
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Becky Hammon praised Pissott’s shooting, saying, 'she can shoot that thang,' and that the Aces were excited to have her on the team.
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DeWanna Bonner became the third player in WNBA history to surpass 8,000 career points during the game.
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The Aces won by 48 points, a margin that stands as one of the largest in franchise history.
Justine Pissott made an instant statement in her WNBA debut on Friday, drilling five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finishing with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting as the Las Vegas Aces routed the Phoenix Mercury 106-58, according to NBC Sports. The 48-point margin matches the third-largest win in WNBA history.
Pissott's five made 3-pointers in a debut set a WNBA record, per SI. The performance came largely in garbage time — but it raised immediate questions about Indiana's decision to let her go.
Indiana Passed on Pissott — Now She's Breaking Records
The Indiana Fever could have kept Pissott. She was signed off Indiana's development roster for a rest-of-season deal with Las Vegas. SI reports the Fever had the ability to match the Aces' offer but chose not to. Doing so would have required Indiana to waive a rostered player — a cost the team decided wasn't worth it.
That call now looks costly. Pissott shot 7-of-8 and drained five 3-pointers in one quarter. Aces coach Becky Hammon was blunt in her praise, saying 'she can shoot that thang' and that Las Vegas was 'excited to have her.' Pissott's size and quick release fit exactly what Indiana's offense needs alongside Caitlin Clark.
Wilson and Gray Dominate Before the Blowout Sets In
Before Pissott took over the fourth quarter, the Aces' stars did the heavy lifting. A'ja Wilson posted 21 points and 15 rebounds in under 25 minutes, per News 3 Las Vegas. Chelsea Gray added 15 points and 11 assists. Las Vegas led by 37 points at halftime and pushed the lead to 54 in the fourth.
The Aces shot around 50.6% from the field and dominated rebounding and turnovers, according to Roundtable. Las Vegas rested four starters late in the game. Their bench — led by Pissott — kept pouring it on. The depth on display underscored why the Aces remain a serious title contender.
DeWanna Bonner Hits a Historic Milestone in a Lopsided Loss
Not all the history belonged to Las Vegas. During the game, Phoenix's DeWanna Bonner became the third player in WNBA history to surpass 8,000 career points, per The Sporting Tribune. The milestone came in a tough setting — her Mercury lost by 48 — but marked a significant achievement in a long career.
What Pissott's Debut Means for Las Vegas's Title Run
The Aces now head into back-to-back games with fresh momentum. NBC Sports noted the 106-58 result matches the third-biggest win in league history. Las Vegas has extended its dominance over Phoenix, and the roster just got deeper. Pissott gives the team a shooter who can space the floor and punish tired defenses late in games.
For Indiana, the lesson is sharper. Pissott's shooting fits a five-out lineup built around Caitlin Clark — exactly the kind of floor spacing the Fever need. They had a chance to keep her. They passed. Now she's breaking records in a Las Vegas uniform.
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