FGCU’s Kierstan Bell making most of limited role for WNBA’s top-seeded Las Vegas Aces

Kierstan Bell has never been what you would call a bench player.

From being a three-time Ohio Ms. Basketball at Canton McKinley High School to a freshman starting at Ohio State to the ASUN Player of the Year both of her seasons at FGCU, Bell has been the focal point of her team.

But being a rookie on one of the WNBA’s best teams has a way of making even the best players acquainted with the bench.

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Led by head coach Becky Hammon, a WNBA playing legend and the NBA’s first full-time female assistant coach, and all-star players like A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, the Las Vegas Aces finished with the Western Conference’s best record (26-10) and as the league’s No. 1 seed. They knocked off the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the playoffs and open the semifinals Sunday against the Seattle Storm.

First WNBA season a learning experience for Las Vegas rookie guard

Bell admits it has been an adjustment, but also a learning experience. The 11th overall pick by the Aces in April agreed with the comparison of this season as a type of professional redshirt year. She appeared in 21 regular-season games, averaging 5.8 minutes and 1.3 points per game.

Las Vegas Aces guard Kierstan Bell (1) celebrates after a play against the Phoenix Mercury during the second half in Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

“You’re not really getting in the game, but you still have to stay focused and still be a professional athlete,” Bell said. “You know, you don’t want to have days off where you’re not yourself or where you’re losing confidence. You just got to stay true to yourself.

“When you’re a rookie, you’re coming from a school where you play a lot, and then you come and you’re sitting down on a bench, you know, it’s different. But that’s just the opportunity to learn for the next year when you come in to try to attack it way different than you did, and wanting to earn a spot in the game.”

That Las Vegas drafted Bell out of college shouldn’t have come as a surprise with Hammon entering her first year as Aces coach. Bell was named the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year during her two years with the Eagles before declaring for the draft as a junior.

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Head coach Becky Hammon ‘tough but fair’

Bell described Hammon as tough but fair. She pushes her players and expects them to focus on the small thing to succeed.

“You know, just listening to the details. And that’s what a lot of things that matter in this league is you have to pay attention to the little details,” Bell said. “When you’re in the game, when you’re out the game when you’re not in the practice events and just being around Coach, you know, I’ve learned a lot from her. But she’s been a great person, on and off the court. She’s a great coach, she’s hard on us. She knows what she wants, and she’s attacking it every day as if she wants to get better, just like the rest of us do.”

Las Vegas Aces guard Kierstan Bell (1) celebrates with teammates during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)

Bell said playing two years at FGCU under Karl Smesko helped her be ready for Hammon’s style. She said the coaches are similar in how they gameplan, including their love of shooting 3-pointers and making reads on defense.

The Aces showed their love of the 3 in their first-round, series-clinching 117-80 win over the Mercury by setting set a WNBA record for most 3-pointers in a game with 23. The previous record was 18. Bell played the entire fourth quarter and was a perfect 3-for-3 shooting 3-pointers and had 11 points overall.

“You know, when you get your opportunity to get in the game, you have to show up and show out. And so that’s what I did,” Bell said. “I was just comfortable. And I got in there and I let it fly. And that night it just fell through.”

Bell texted Smesko after that game because at FGCU they used the phrase “arrows” when they were hitting 3s. Her text to her former coach was arrows with a lot of ssssss.

“Kierstan has had a very good rookie year,” Smesko said. “She is on the best team in the WNBA. When she has had the opportunity to play extended minutes, she has shown she is capable of being an explosive scorer in the WNBA.”

Kierstan Bell (1) of the Las Vegas Aces is defended by Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx in a WNBA preseason game, May 1, 2022, at Target Center in Minneapolis.

First year with Aces brings changes, adjustments

One adjustment Bell has had to make is she played one position at FGCU, while for the Aces they have moved her around from shooting guard to power forward. The pace of the game and the quality of athletes she is facing has also increased exponentially. That’s taught Bell she needs to work on her fitness to be able to compete for a roster spot and playing time next season.

“Really just the physicality of the game, you know, I’m going to be getting hit in the weight room a little harder,” she said. “Trying to get my body in shape, eating healthier. Because that is a difference coming from college to professionals. You just got to take care of your body. And you know, eating Chik-fil-A every morning isn’t gonna help. So gotta save a little bit.”

But there are still games to be played as the Aces face the Storm in a best-of-5 conference final series. The Storm have Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird, who announced this is her last season, on a talented roster.

“This whole season has been ups and downs. But you know, we’re making it to the semifinals playing the Seattle Storm, it’s gonna be a great series,” Bell said. “But you know, we got faith in our team that we’re gonna move to the finals.”

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: WNBA playoffs: Las Vegas Aces’ Kierstan Bell ready for conference finals