The Aces’ 2025 season isn’t going according to plan. Rather than reestablishing themselves as one of the top teams in the league, the Aces have a 6-7 record and sit in seventh place in the regular-season standings. Even the new Golden State Valkyries have a better record.
A’ja Wilson is carrying a massive load on both ends of the floor, leading the Aces in minutes, points, rebounds, steals, and blocks per game. Jewell Loyd, who replaced Kelsey Plum, is not playing her best season. She is only averaging 11.4 points. That is her lowest scoring average since her rookie season.
Amid the Aces’ struggles, there has been one clear bright spot. Rookie Aaliyah Nye is playing well, giving the veteran Aces a young player to develop within their system. Nye was already a sharpshooter in college, shooting 41.8 percent from three over five seasons. So, it is no huge surprise that she is one of the best 3-point shooters on the Aces’ roster this season. Her shot is not her most impressive attribute, though. It is the fact that she is well prepared to perform at the next level and is learning incredibly fast.
“Roll Tide [Aaliyah Nye] has done a great job of understanding who she is,” A’ja Wilson said after the Aces’ win over the Indiana Fever.
Later, she added, “She just self-corrects, which is crazy. Like, I’ve never seen a rookie just self-correct so quickly and on the fly, so shout out to Bama with that.”
Aaliyah Nye entered the WNBA ready to have an impact
After five seasons in college, Nye entered the WNBA with plenty of experience and a clear idea of what kind of player she is. That has translated to the court. Joining a veteran team pursuing a championship isn’t easy for a rookie. Usually, it means that there aren’t a lot of minutes available. Nye has earned Becky Hammon’s trust, though.
She has appeared in every game and played at least fifteen minutes in seven consecutive games now. Nye’s production is still rather up and down. On some nights, she scores in double digits, and on others, she misses all of her shots. That is not unusual for a rookie, though. Overall, Nye has been solid.
She has scored double-digits in four games already, including the Aces’ 89-81 win over the Fever. In that game, she made three of her five attempts from long range. Despite being a rookie on a veteran team, Nye is not afraid to take shots and let the threes fly. In a tough loss to the Golden State Valkyries, she took a season-high eight threes.
For the season, she is averaging 5.5 points on efficient shooting and 1.3 rebounds. Those numbers may not jump off the page, but Nye is putting together a solid season and impressing the Aces.
The Aces need young talent to develop
The Aces are a veteran team. Five players on the roster are 30 or older, and six are 25 or older. Aaliyah Nye and Elizabeth Kitley are the only young players on the roster. The Aces want to win now. Developing young players often does not fit into that plan. Nevertheless, it is always good to have promising young talent to bring along. After all, the Aces also need to think about the future.
Finding a young player who fits into their system and can deliver right away with a second-round pick was a stroke of luck.