When we think about a successful team in the WNBA, the first name that pops into most people’s heads is that of the Las Vegas Aces. Aces have been one of the most dominant teams in recent history, winning back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 and losing in the semi-finals against the New York Liberty after finishing 4th overall in 2024. And the name synonymous with Aces’s success is none other than last year’s MVP and WNBA superstar, A’ja Wilson. However, things are not looking as smooth sailing for the Aces this season.
Aces had a hard time in the WNBA season opener when they faced the team that they had been despising all offseason, the New York Liberty. However, the torture did not end there for the Aces as they lost again to the New York Liberty in their 2025 season opener.
The 92-78 defeat on May 17, 2025, saw Wilson shine with 31 points and 16 rebounds, but the rest of the team struggled to keep up, especially against the Liberty’s towering frontcourt of Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, who combined for 42 points and controlled the paint. Natasha Cloud also made a statement in her Liberty debut, adding to the Aces’ troubles with 22 points and nine assists.
But there was more to the whole picture than what meets the eye.
One of the most renowned analysts, Alexa Philippou, went on to ‘The Ringer WNBA Show’ hosted by Seerat Sohi. Philippou went on to discuss how certain aspects of the Aces locker room were problematic and needed immediate attention. When Sohi posed a question regarding the lack of defense by the Aces, Alexa was quick to make a certain point about Aces head coach.
Philippou asserted that coach Becky Hammon was of the view that there was no problem on the roster but rather in the players’ minds, not being able to grasp minute details, and Hammon believes those problems have been resolved over the off-season, while noting that the Aces had a few players missing.
The absence of reserve forward Crystal Bradford in the opener, as she served a one-game suspension stemming from a 2021 altercation, didn’t help, especially considering Wilson referred to her as the team’s “battery” for her consistent energy.
However, Alexa was still not sure about the Ace’s tactical aspects as she noted, “But I am still not sure if they made the moves in the off-season that they needed to to properly respond to the issues that the Liberty have posted them. Really getting back to the 2024 season because they are now what won and 1 and 7 against the Liberty, I think since the beginning of 2024, and I just don’t think that’s, again, the they have a completely different look from their bench. I don’t think they haven’t improved in terms of that size component to really respond on the defensive end.”
All the teams in the W will be ecstatic hearing this news about the Aces, as they will know how to beat the reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson, and her team with this wonderful bit of information. Being an undersized team will hinder the chances of the Aces to make a deeper run in the 2025 season.
Teams like the Minnesota Lynx, boasting a deep bench, and the Indiana Fever, led by MVP frontrunner Caitlin Clark, are poised to challenge Las Vegas’ dominance. Clark has recently surpassed A’ja Wilson in MVP betting odds, with odds of +195 compared to Wilson’s +200 .
However, they made a big trade blunder before the 2025 season that might have put the nail in their coffin
Do the Las Vegas Aces regret trading Kelsey Plum?
Kelsey Plum had been one of the hardest-fighting guards for the Las Vegas Aces. After spending her entire career with the franchise, the 3x All-Star and 2021 Sixth Player of the Year was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks.
In a three-team trade in January 2025, the Las Vegas Aces acquired Jewell Loyd, the 2023 WNBA scoring leader, aiming to enhance their offense with her 24.7 points per game. However, her 2024 average dipped to 19.7 points, raising concerns about her fit with the team.
Aug 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) reacts during the second half of basketball game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Plum had been a key figure in the Aces’ back-to-back championship runs and was a force to be reckoned with. Although fairly sized for a guard, Plum never let her height be an issue as she went on against the best in the league. But even after spending eight seasons with the team, Hammon decided to trade Plum and might already be paying a price for it.
Plum began her season with the Los Angeles Sparks, thriving in a leadership role alongside Dearica Hamby and under coach Curt Miller. In her debut, she delivered a record-setting performance, scoring 37 points—the most ever in a WNBA season opener—and added six assists and five steals, leading the Sparks to an 84–67 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. This standout game has quickly made her one of the most talked-about players of the season.
What’s more interesting is the fact that during the Aces’ home opener, their guards struggled to have a decent game, Loyd scored 24 points but shot inefficiently, and the backcourt leaned heavily on Wilson’s heroics, especially in the absence of Chelsea Gray. This will put a lot of doubt in the mind of Aces’ supporters as they lost one of their most reliable players on the team.
A’ja Wilson and her teammates will be looking to bounce back against the Liberty when they face each other again on August 14. Hammon and the Aces need to work on their defensive traits if they have any expectations of having a good season.
With a thin frontcourt and new faces like Loyd still gelling, the Aces’ dynasty is under threat, and Philippou’s analysis has given rivals a playbook to challenge them.
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