The Las Vegas Raiders toy with starting a plethora of rookies in 2023, the Golden Knights get destroyed in game two, and A’ja Wilson comments on the possibility of winning back-to-back championships. Here’s what happened last week in Las Vegas sports (May 1 – 7).
#5 Kyle and Kurt Busch earn spots on the Top NASCAR drivers list
This week, the Busch brother got to NASCAR’s top-75 list, cementing their legacy in the sport. The list initially stood at 50 drivers but is being updated to 75. This is all a part of the sport’s 75th-anniversary celebration, which will feature quite a few surprises. The induction comes at an interesting time for both Busch brothers, Las Vegas natives who are on different career paths.
Kyle Busch is having a career renaissance with RCR, while Kurt is working on a comeback after an injury.
#4 Golden Knights suffer a game-two loss to the Edmonton Oilers
The Golden Knights advanced to the second round last week, putting them on a collision course with the Oilers. While Las Vegas won the first game 6-4, the Oilers responded with a 5-1 victory of their own in game two. The Oilers wasted no time pressing on the gas pedal, knocking in four goals by the end of the first period. The Knights only mustered one goal the entire evening. As for goaltender Laurent Brossoit, he let five of 32 pucks past him.
Not only did the loss kill their four-game winning streak, but it’s a sign that Las Vegas is struggling. Allowing nine goals in two games is nothing to joke about.
#3 A’ja Wilson comments on the difficulty of winning back-to-back WNBA Titles
The Las Vegas Aces hope to repeat as Champions in 2023, but there are some roadblocks in their way. This includes an investigation into allegations of under-the-table payments and a possible departure by Becky Hammon. Despite this, A’ja Wilson spoke with Esquire and said this about how difficult it would be to repeat as champion.
“When you win, you’re like, OK, we got to do everything we did last year,” Wilson explained. “That’s going to be the hardest thing—understanding that it’s a different journey. I’ve always remembered what Bill Laimbeer said: “If you win a championship—the feeling—it’s like you have a secret key.”
Whether the Aces can utilize this key is anyone’s guess.
Related: Good, bad, and ugly from The Viper’s first season in Las Vegas
#2 Athletics having trouble finalizing Las Vegas move
The Athletics announced their move to Las Vegas two weeks ago and are already having some problems. The organization is reportedly behind on presenting a spending package, and the legislative session is set to end in just over a month. This means that there isn’t much time to get something done.
Unfortunately for the Athletics, this might even cause the deal to fall through. If that happens, they can negotiate with Oakland, or a special session can be called in Las Vegas to pass the bill.
Jeff Passan of ESPN spoke with Steve Yeager, who claimed that if they were going to pass a bill, it should have been submitted by now. He also argues the deadline almost guarantees that there will be no deal in place, barring a special session.
According to Nevada Governor Steve Lombardo, however, “We are in the process of working on a package for the A’s… It’s our preference to see this happen before the legislature adjourns, but we will consider different options if that is not possible.”
#1 Las Vegas Raiders looking to start several rookies in 2023
The Raiders did a great job in the draft and have a few more pieces to win a championship. In fact, some are speculating that they might have the most starters in their rookie class next season. If true, that will be a huge shakeup for Las Vegas, giving the team a whole new look.
The most obvious starter is Tyree Wilson, who is a defensive end with a lot of upsides. He’s supposedly so powerful that experts fear he will be tough to stop.
“We knew it would be important for the Raiders to nail their first selection of the draft in the top 10,” Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus said. “Tyree Wilson has a chance to be a high-impact player in Year 1 due to the fact that he should see a decent amount of one-on-one opportunities as teams focus on stopping Maxx Crosby on the other side of the line.”
More: Baby Gronk coming to the Las Vegas Raiders
Another great catch is Michael Mayer, nicknamed “Baby Gronk.” He is known for his size, speed, and ability to make the catch. He will definitely give the Raiders a boost in the passing game and could help with their red zone efficiency. They also have a slew of other passing weapons that will allow Mayer to play different roles.
As for the offense, according to Sikemma, “trading Darren Waller this offseason was a big blow, but adding an experienced tight end like Michael Mayer in the second round means the Raiders can continue to emphasize that position in the passing game.”
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