The 2025 WNBA season hasn't even finished yet, but there's no reason why we can't engage in a little 2026 free agency speculation, right? And what better way to begin by tearing apart the very fabric of the No. 2 ranked team in the league by making a bold (and accurate) suggestion: if the Golden State Valkyries want to play even tougher basketball next season, they should target A'ja Wilson.
There are a lot of reasons why it's difficult to imagine Wilson walking away from the Aces — the team she was drafted to as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft — but there are a few compelling reasons that support the possibility:
The Aces still rely on Wilson in the wrong ways
Las Vegas began the 2025 season poorly, and it didn't seem like the team had any juice left in the tank ahead of the All-Star break. And then, as she has so often done in the past, Wilson appeared to decide that if the Aces were going to win another championship (and yes: they are absolutely in contention this season), she was going to have to get them there herself.
There's nothing wrong with a team rallying around its star, especially when the star vibrates at the level Wilson operates at. But it starts to feel like the Aces have one plan and one plan only: A'ja Wilson.
At some point, Wilson could end up burnt out by the physical and metaphorical pressure to carry the team on her back — and that's not necessarily something that would happen if she played for Golden State.
A'ja Wilson is already close to Natalie Nakase
A transition to the Valkyries would be pretty easy for Wilson, especially since she's already worked with coach Natalie Nakase before and had a strong friendship with her then-rookie Kate Martin last season. As much as Wilson has become synonymous with the Aces over the last several years, there's no reason to suspect she'd have any problem reuniting with both.
Becky Hammon openly supports A'ja
Something that could keep Wilson loyal to the Aces is that she and coach Becky Hammon appear close, and Hammon very openly celebrates Wilson in all of the right ways. It's clear that the coach-player dynamic between these two is special and strong in Las Vegas.
Wilson would provide the fire the Valkyries need
Bringing Wilson to the Valkyries would give the team the push they need to jump to the next level. Golden State has enjoyed a tremendous inaugural season with a strong roster that has defied expectations at nearly every turn. The team could retain Temi Fagbenle at the 4/5 and bring Wilson is as a starter — and adding a player like Wilson to the team would give the Valkyries the star power the team was looking for during free agency this season.