Throughout their glory days, the Las Vegas Aces have relied heavily on a talented starting lineup, spearheaded by A'ja Wilson, to win championships. The addition of Chennedy Carter made so much sense -- an explosive guard who will consistently rack up points from the bench is exactly what this roster needed. However, this relationship quickly turned sour, and on July 7, the franchise waived its newest star, weakening its secondary unit significantly.
The question is: how much does Carter's departure truly dent the Aces' championship ambitions? In my opinion, hugely. Yes, it was clear that the controversial guard wasn't pleased with her role in the rotation, and there was some noise surrounding her social media activity at the time; her presence cemented Las Vegas as title favourites.
A'ja Wilson is one of one. Ultimately, the Aces are now one of the WNBA's storied franchises due to her two-way dominance. Again this season, she has proven to be Becky Hammon's talisman as they aim to retain the championship. The four-time MVP has averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.3 stocks per game, while shooting 52.7% from the floor.
But the fact of the matter is that the WNBA playoffs are at a higher standard than ever. Not even A'ja Wilson can individually carry her teammates to glory. Strength in depth is required, and the Aces have already waived one of their greatest weapons.
Carter's bench spark would have been critical in the postseason
The butterfly effect is real. One decision can alter the entire direction of your future. While their hands may have been tied, Las Vegas' decision to waive Chennedy Carter might have been the moment that decided their playoff fate.
Both the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream have deep rosters. The Valkyries can call upon Sixth Player of the Year Janelle Salaun and Kaitlyn Chen if the game needs a momentum change. On the other hand, the Dream have the luxury of summoning the legendary DeWanna Bonner from their secondary unit. This volume of talent matters in a deep postseason run.
Las Vegas literally had an impact star in the building. Carter averaged 12.2 points per game, while sinking 60% of her shots. It's almost impossible to believe that Carter wouldn't have pushed Salaun all the way for the Sixth Player of the Year accolade if she had remained in Las Vegas
On the court, everything Carter touched turned to gold. Her incredible handles, turn of pace, and devastating offensive ability were too much for any opponent to contain. After limping to a 60-71 defeat to the Valkyries, it's very clear that when it's time to call on their bench, the Aces don't have a game-changing option.
Becky Hammon knows exactly what it takes to win a championship. She also knows an elite player when she sees one. Hammon would have wanted Chennedy Carter to stay in Las Vegas, so whatever happened behind the scenes must have been unsalvageable. However, it could be the moment we look back on as the turning point in the Aces' pursuit of a second consecutive championship.
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