The reigning WNBA Most Valuable Player has done it again: A'ja Wilson continued to make history in a thrilling 86-90 victory over the youthful Dallas Wings. The 28-year-old star was unstoppable as she scored a phenomenal 37 points, meaning Wilson now holds the fourth most games with 30+ points in WNBA history (28).
Again, Wilson has proven to be the centerpiece of everything good that the Aces produce, leading four of the five main statistics for her franchise throughout the 2025 campaign. Currently, the South Carolina legend is averaging a team-high 21.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game.
Despite the magnificent individual effort that Wilson continues to showcase, it presents a worrying issue for Las Vegas. Wilson doesn’t have much consistent help.
Aces' reliance on Wilson could come back to haunt them
After an underwhelming 2024 season in which the Aces crashed out in the WNBA playoffs semifinals to the eventual champions, the New York Liberty, the Nevada-based franchise would have been aiming for a resurgence in 2025. However, it has been quite the contrary as its record currently stands at 11-11 and would be in a much worse state if it were not for A'ja Wilson.
Due to being placed under concussion protocol in June and resting a niggling wrist injury in early July, the three-time WNBA MVP has missed five games this campaign, with Las Vegas only claiming one victory during this period. Not only does this not bode well for the team's playoff ambitions if their superstar suffers any more fitness issues, but it also suggests a bleak long-term future for the franchise.
Wilson's contract is due to expire after the 2025 campaign, and without a long-term vision that does not involve the star performing at an exceptional level, the Aces could be set to lose arguably the greatest player ever to grace the Michelob ULTRA Arena. It would be staggering if teams around the league are not on red alert to the situation and waiting to inflict more misery on the two-time WNBA champions.
Envisioning a future for Las Vegas without A'ja Wilson seems impossible. Not only does she set the standard for the team in nearly every area imaginable, but the ruthless center strikes fear into the hearts of every opponent that she matches up against.
The Las Vegas Aces must find a solution to provide support for their sensational superstar on both sides of the ball before it is too late. Although the franchise would have the ability to retain the rights to Wilson—if the new version of the Collective Bargaining Agreement follows the same structure as the previous, meaning they would not lose their star without assets in return—it is impossible to replace a generational talent such as A'ja Wilson.