The Las Vegas Aces are hoping to repeat their 2025 WNBA Championship this season. And when it comes to the Aces, we've all learned by now they're always contenders even when it seems like they aren't, so the conversations surrounding potential playoffs and finals matchups have often centered around who the Aces might play and why.
That's pretty impressive considering the team is ranked third in the league behind the Golden State Valkyries and the Minnesota Lynx (who are second and first, respectively). The Lynx certainly seem to be well on their way to taking home everything this season (barring any injuries or surprises), and the Aces may have just handed both teams something that will bolster their championship chances further.
NaLyssa Smith will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering an injury this week. Smith suffered a non-contact injury to her knee, and the team has not revealed whether she will have surgery or what kind of rehab she might require. But just missing the rest of the season is a tough blow for both Smith and for the team she's been a crucial member of since she joined in the middle of the season.
The Aces are always strong when they have Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and A'ja Wilson working in tandem with one another. So far, all three are healthy and on fire; they're playing strong basketball and can certainly push the team far. But Smith has proven to be a powerful counterpart to Wilson's game since she joined by way of the Dallas Wings, and finding a replacement for her skill and the pair's chemistry will be tough.
The Aces have three options: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Brianna Turner, and Justine Pissott. While all three have been contributors this season, they haven't always played consistently enough to make it easy for head coach Becky Hammon to sub one on for Smith's spot, and that leaves a giant question mark looming over the Aces' postseason future.
How the team finishes the regular season could also impact Wilson's own quest to become the first WNBA player to be named MVP five times (should she win the award this year, she'll also be the first player to win three consecutive MVPs). Though she's performing as the best player in the league, Wilson is facing strong threats from Lynx rookie Olivia Miles. If Miles is named MVP, she's very likely to become the first player to receive that award and Rookie of the Year since Candace Parker.
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