It’s painfully evident that A’ja Wilson cannot save the Las Vegas Aces.
When Las Vegas won a championship in 2023, it was because the Aces were a menace on both sides of the floor. Teams couldn’t easily unravel A’ja and company because Las Vegas was always two steps ahead of every move on the court.
It was easy then — effortless — to deploy Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, or an extra large helping of ball movement from Chelsea Gray to get out of a jam. A’ja Wilson was the pretty bow around the gift box that wrapped it all together, and condolences to the poor soul on the other side of Vegas’ dominance. But things have drastically changed.
After watching the Aces win back-to-back championships, the field has adjusted, and A’ja is no longer just the bow or an embarrassment of riches for a loaded Las Vegas squad. On any night, she’s the gift, the tissue paper to protect the gift, the lovely box it comes in — you name it.
Another performance worth remembering for A'ja Wilson
Tonight Wilson became the 5th player in WNBA history to tally a 40 PT game on 70%+ shooting, joining Liz Cambage (2x), Breanna Stewart, Kelsey Plum, and Rhyne Howard
A'ja finished with: 42 PTS, 16-22 FGM#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/Zte08dq3C0
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 28, 2024
According to the WNBA’s stats records, Wilson has a blistering 31.0 percent usage rate this season — up from 26.7 percent in 2022 and 27.9 percent in 2023 — second only to Kahleah Copper (31.7), indicating that everything starts and ends with her.
Don’t get me wrong. A’ja’s having a historically tremendous season. She leads the league in points, field goals made, and blocks per game. Wilson is also second in rebounds and fifth in steals. That’s mind-boggling stuff.
However, Wilson isn’t always enough to withstand the adjustments made by teams like the New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun or to fend off scrappy teams like the Chicago Sky or the Dallas Wings.
Las Vegas has lost five of its last seven games, and its once-prolific offense, which used to keep the league’s elite teams at bay, is now dependent on Plum and Gray’s maddening inconsistency. Even Young, who is usually surefire, has been prone to head-scratching disappearing acts. Don’t get me started on the lack of productive depth from Vegas’ bench. That’s been largely a disappointment, too.
Then, there’s the team’s Swiss cheese defense during late-game scenarios, which isn’t helping. It doesn’t matter what coverage Las Vegas deploys; none of it looks like or feels synonymous with the franchise. The Aces are getting dinged in the paint and cooked around the perimeter, leaving it up to chance or Wilson to save the team.
By all accounts, she could cast everything aside, put the Aces on her back and drag them to the WNBA Finals. However, she shouldn’t have to.
A'JA WILSON WALKS IT OFF FOR THE ACES! pic.twitter.com/6UTbMkFVkv
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 25, 2024
It was a joke in July when she trolled her teammates for not showing up in a game but wanting a picture with Usher after a disappointing loss to the Chicago Sky.
Sadly, the joke has turned into a reality in Las Vegas, and if the Aces don’t find a switch fast, they’ll be at home on the couch after a bitter playoff series loss while another team hoists a trophy.
