This season was all things unexpected for the Las Vegas Aces.
A team that has established a culture of consistent winning and excellence didn’t seem like themselves from the season’s start. Early season injuries, off-court controversies and a magnified lens on the backs of the back-to-back champs created a season of dodging curves and walking across eggshells, and as a result, the tank didn’t have enough gas to go for three-straight rings.
Rough start, tough finish
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The Aces came into this season with two-straight WNBA championships, momentum to make history and a chip on their shoulder. What they didn’t have in their arsenal was their emotional leader: Chelsea Gray.
Gray missed the first 12 games of the season, which not only left the Aces without their compass but also without a huge bolt of leadership and energy. Her absence proved how invaluable she is as the team started off with a 6-6 record, looking like a shell of themselves only a few months after they hoisted their second-straight championship trophy.
The Aces also had to deal with off-court controversy, facing scrutiny and a league investigation for each player receiving a $100,00 bonus from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority at the start of the season. That situation, coupled with the pressure and expectations of making history and defying odds, did a number on an exhausted Aces team that still made it within two games of yet another WNBA Finals.
A’historic season
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Despite coming short of a third-straight chip, A’ja Wilson had the best season in WNBA history. And the craziest part is that she would’ve traded her individual success for team success because that’s just the leader she is.
Wilson won another M’VP, an Olympic Gold Medal, became the first player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in a single season and averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.6 blocks per game, which were all career highs. She also announced that her debut A’One signature shoe was on the way as well. Anything that A’ja could’ve done this season besides winning a ring, she did.
What’s next for the Aces?
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Time to reset and recharge. The Aces, for the first time in years, will get a head start on their offseason break. With the pressure of winning a championship having passed, they also will experience some mental and physical ease.
The Aces will have the opportunity to hit the fresh start button this offseason. They’ll have the opportunity to go into next season fully healthy with fresh legs and a clear mind, and with less burdensome expectations riding on their backs. I think, strangely, it’s exactly what the Aces needed and will help them in the long run. Too early to say 2025 WNBA Finals champions?
