Aces’ Revival Led by A’ja Wilson After Crushing Loss
When you think about a turning point in sports, it’s not always the big wins that define a season — sometimes, it’s the losses. For the Las Vegas Aces, that moment came earlier this month when they were handed a brutal 53-point loss by the Minnesota Lynx. It was one of the worst defeats in WNBA history, and Coach Becky Hammon admitted afterward that she didn’t have many positive words to give. Instead of talking, she went back to the film room, studying every angle and thinking about how to reset her team.
What followed was remarkable. The Aces bounced back the very next night with a much-needed game against the Golden State Valkyries. From there, something clicked. They’ve now strung together five straight wins, including a big one over the New York Liberty — their first regular-season victory against New York in nearly two years. That win didn’t just feel good, it signaled that the Aces are back in the mix. They’ve climbed to fifth place in the standings and sit only a couple of games out of second.
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Now, it hasn’t been a smooth ride this season. A year ago, Las Vegas was chasing a three-peat after winning back-to-back championships, only to be bounced in the second round of the playoffs. This season started rough too — roster changes, coaching staff shakeups, and stretches of uneven play. For the first time since A’ja Wilson’s rookie year in 2018, the Aces hit the All-Star break without a winning record. Expectations have been sky high, and the comparisons to past championship runs were unavoidable.
But Wilson has remained the rock holding everything together. The three-time MVP continues to dominate, recently becoming the first player in WNBA history to score 30 points and grab 20 rebounds in the same game. Her leadership has also grown louder. She hasn’t just led with her play; she’s been more vocal, stepping into huddles and demanding belief from her teammates. Guard Dana Evans even called her the best leader she’s ever played with.
The changes around Wilson have been significant. Jewell Loyd, who joined the team this year, has found her rhythm off the bench, putting up stronger scoring numbers while playing fewer minutes. Forward NaLyssa Smith, acquired in a midseason trade, has quickly become a crucial piece, often closing out games with the Aces’ All-Stars. And on the glass, the team has found a new identity — leading the league in offensive rebounding since that ugly Minnesota loss.
Of course, inconsistency still lingers. They’ve had more blowout losses this season than Wilson has been used to in her entire career. But the past few weeks suggest that a corner has been turned. The Aces aren’t the dominant juggernaut everyone expected, at least not yet, but they are fighting their way back into contender form.
With Wilson setting the tone, Hammon pushing the right buttons, and the team rediscovering its edge, Las Vegas is reminding the league that they aren’t done chasing championships. In fact, they might just be getting started again.
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