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[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 WNBA Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
The Las Vegas Aces’ three-peat bid fell short with a 3-1 series loss to the New York Liberty in the WNBA semifinals a year ago. However, there were warning signs much earlier than that, as the Aces dropped two of their first six games and three of five in the Commissioner’s Cup. By June 15, they had matched their loss total for all of 2023 and were slipping in the standings.
The Aces finished fourth in the league, which would be far less disappointing without the achievements of the two previous years. A’ja Wilson, however, only got better, leading the league in points, rebounds, blocks and a host of other categories. The three-time MVP posted career highs in nearly every column while playing 34.4 minutes per game.
After the Aces reportedly could not reach an extension with Kelsey Plum, they traded the veteran guard in a three-team deal with the Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks that netted Jewell Loyd in return. Loyd will likely take Plum’s spot in the starting rotation and, at 5-foot-11, will add a little height to the guard position.
Similar to last year, Las Vegas will likely continue with a four-woman rotation for the final three spots on the court in Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kiah Stokes and Megan Gustafson or newcomer Tiffany Mitchell. Gustafson averaged just 10.7 minutes per game but was one of the first players off the bench, appearing in 38 of the team’s regular-season games thanks to a smaller frontcourt pool.
More WNBA team previews:
Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Sun | Valkyries | Wings
It will be interesting to see how the style of play might change with two new coaches on the sideline after first assistant Natalie Nakase and assistant coach Tyler Marsh both landed their first head-coaching gigs. Nakase will lead the expansion Golden State Valkyries, and Marsh will helm the Chicago Sky.
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.Derek White / NBAE via Getty Images
Wilson has quickly developed into one of the most dominant players in the league, partially because she is so difficult to scout. She scores with ease, both over defenders and off the dribble. She is efficient, too, shooting 51.8% from the field and averaging 26.9 points per game. Maintaining a high shooting percentage is obviously easier if you stay closer to the basket, but she isn’t afraid to step out a few feet for a jumper, either.
On defense, she is quick to block shots or beat you to the boards to limit opportunities down low. Simply put, she plays like a three-time MVP. Head coach Becky Hammon’s system is clearly centered around Wilson, with the rest of the team focused on feeding the ball inside.
Acknowledging that consistent scoring was an issue last season, the Aces will need to find another big-time contributor down low, as there is a steep statistical drop-off before you reach the rest of the bigs. This is where Stokes or Gustafson could make a difference with another year of familiarity in the system. Kierstan Bell could also earn some minutes down low if she can prove herself in camp.
One of the Aces’ other weaknesses last season was the lack of depth on defense. That deficiency was reflected in the stats, as the team ranked sixth in points allowed (80.9) after leading the WNBA in 2023. It showed up in a particularly painful way in the WNBA semifinals, where they gave up a combined 86 paint points to the Liberty in Games 1 and 2.
Though still hampered by a right foot injury sustained in the 2023 postseason, Stokes was the team’s second-best defender statistically, ranking second on the team in both rebounds and blocks. Her 33 blocks last season actually earned her a spot alongside Wilson in the league’s top 15. If she can get back to full health, she is in position to provide some valuable strength and size to the Aces’ post play.
Aside from Stokes, look for Gustafson to earn more significant minutes if she can knock down a few more of her shot attempts per game and make a good impression in her early appearances.
Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces gestures after hitting a 3-pointer against the Seattle Storm in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Gray, Young and Loyd will likely be the Aces’ starting guard trio, but Dana Evans and Mitchell are also intriguing additions to the roster. Both have starting experience — Mitchell more recently — and add some much-needed depth in case of injury.
The importance of depth was apparent at the start of last season with a 12-game absence from Gray, who had sustained a foot injury in the 2023 WNBA Finals. She returned to the starting lineup but averaged just 26 minutes in the regular season — a career low since becoming a consistent starter.
Without her, the Aces typically turned to a slightly larger lineup with Plum and Young at the guard positions. They also tried Tiffany Hayes and Kate Martin for a few games. The Aces enter 2025 without three of those four, two of whom were among the team’s top four in scoring. They also lose fan favorite Sydney Colson, who came off the bench in 30 games and started one for Las Vegas last year.
Luckily, Loyd should be easy to slot in Plum’s place, having the added benefit of familiarity with most of the other starters from her time with USA Basketball suiting up with Wilson, Young and Gray. If those four can fall into a quick rhythm, Loyd should be able to add essential scoring support, especially beyond the arc. She made a career-high 115 treys in 2023 for Seattle, which would surpass the 110 made by Plum for the Aces last season.
Six-time WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd joins the Aces after 10 seasons with the Seattle Storm.Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The Aces seem poised for another deep run, with championship experience at all five positions. The big question will be whether they can find the right mix of backups to keep a consistent level of play throughout the season, especially if another starter misses significant time.
After experiencing the highs of back-to-back titles, the Aces should come in with some extra fire after an unexpected “down year.” There were too many games in which they looked frustrated and a little lost, surrendering 85-plus points in nine of their 13 regular-season losses. Plus, Hammon really doesn’t seem like a coach who would baby her team in the offseason.
Perfect Harmoni: With their final pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Aces selected Harmoni Turner of Harvard, who has her own unique connection to head coach Becky Hammon. Turner led the Ivy League with 22.5 points and 2.8 steals as a senior and was named the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year.
A’ja’s Accolades: After winning her third WNBA MVP award, Aces center A’ja Wilson was included in Time magazine’s annual “Women of the Year” issue. Among her other accomplishments, Time cited her Olympic gold medal with Team USA, her record-setting season and the upcoming launch of her signature shoe, the Nike A’One, set for release in May in a “Pink Aura” colorway. It has already been spotted on the Miami Heat sidelines worn by players like Bam Adebayo. The A’One will be part of an apparel collection featuring her “star” logo. Wilson also had her No. 22 jersey retired at South Carolina in February.
Front Office Changes: The Las Vegas Aces are set to enter the 2025 season without a general manager in place after cutting ties with Natalie Williams in October. They were still able to benefit from one of the offseason’s biggest trades, so maybe there’s no rush for the franchise, which is still subject to a league investigation regarding bonus payments from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
2. Aaliyah Nye, G/F, 6-0, Alabama
3. Harmoni Turner, G, 5-10, Harvard
Analysis: Without a first-round pick, the Las Vegas Aces were primarily looking to add some interesting options off the bench. Aaliyiah Nye of Alabama seems to fit that bill as a versatile 3-4 who shoots at a 42% clip beyond the arc. At 6-foot-0, Nye probably slots in best as a shooting guard, but unfortunately, that is a deep position on this depth chart. Turner, the 2024-25 Ivy League Player of the Year, posted an eye-catching stat line her senior year: averages of 22.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game. It will be interesting to see how she adjusts to the league and playing a smaller role on this star-studded squad, but her quick hands and ability to score may help Turner impress in training camp.
More WNBA team previews:
Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Sun | Valkyries | Wings
Continue reading...
The Las Vegas Aces’ three-peat bid fell short with a 3-1 series loss to the New York Liberty in the WNBA semifinals a year ago. However, there were warning signs much earlier than that, as the Aces dropped two of their first six games and three of five in the Commissioner’s Cup. By June 15, they had matched their loss total for all of 2023 and were slipping in the standings.
The Aces finished fourth in the league, which would be far less disappointing without the achievements of the two previous years. A’ja Wilson, however, only got better, leading the league in points, rebounds, blocks and a host of other categories. The three-time MVP posted career highs in nearly every column while playing 34.4 minutes per game.
After the Aces reportedly could not reach an extension with Kelsey Plum, they traded the veteran guard in a three-team deal with the Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks that netted Jewell Loyd in return. Loyd will likely take Plum’s spot in the starting rotation and, at 5-foot-11, will add a little height to the guard position.
Similar to last year, Las Vegas will likely continue with a four-woman rotation for the final three spots on the court in Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kiah Stokes and Megan Gustafson or newcomer Tiffany Mitchell. Gustafson averaged just 10.7 minutes per game but was one of the first players off the bench, appearing in 38 of the team’s regular-season games thanks to a smaller frontcourt pool.
More WNBA team previews:
Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Sun | Valkyries | Wings
It will be interesting to see how the style of play might change with two new coaches on the sideline after first assistant Natalie Nakase and assistant coach Tyler Marsh both landed their first head-coaching gigs. Nakase will lead the expansion Golden State Valkyries, and Marsh will helm the Chicago Sky.
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Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.Derek White / NBAE via Getty Images
Frontcourt
Wilson has quickly developed into one of the most dominant players in the league, partially because she is so difficult to scout. She scores with ease, both over defenders and off the dribble. She is efficient, too, shooting 51.8% from the field and averaging 26.9 points per game. Maintaining a high shooting percentage is obviously easier if you stay closer to the basket, but she isn’t afraid to step out a few feet for a jumper, either.
On defense, she is quick to block shots or beat you to the boards to limit opportunities down low. Simply put, she plays like a three-time MVP. Head coach Becky Hammon’s system is clearly centered around Wilson, with the rest of the team focused on feeding the ball inside.
Acknowledging that consistent scoring was an issue last season, the Aces will need to find another big-time contributor down low, as there is a steep statistical drop-off before you reach the rest of the bigs. This is where Stokes or Gustafson could make a difference with another year of familiarity in the system. Kierstan Bell could also earn some minutes down low if she can prove herself in camp.
One of the Aces’ other weaknesses last season was the lack of depth on defense. That deficiency was reflected in the stats, as the team ranked sixth in points allowed (80.9) after leading the WNBA in 2023. It showed up in a particularly painful way in the WNBA semifinals, where they gave up a combined 86 paint points to the Liberty in Games 1 and 2.
Though still hampered by a right foot injury sustained in the 2023 postseason, Stokes was the team’s second-best defender statistically, ranking second on the team in both rebounds and blocks. Her 33 blocks last season actually earned her a spot alongside Wilson in the league’s top 15. If she can get back to full health, she is in position to provide some valuable strength and size to the Aces’ post play.
Aside from Stokes, look for Gustafson to earn more significant minutes if she can knock down a few more of her shot attempts per game and make a good impression in her early appearances.
You must be registered for see images attach
Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces gestures after hitting a 3-pointer against the Seattle Storm in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Sept. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Backcourt
Gray, Young and Loyd will likely be the Aces’ starting guard trio, but Dana Evans and Mitchell are also intriguing additions to the roster. Both have starting experience — Mitchell more recently — and add some much-needed depth in case of injury.
The importance of depth was apparent at the start of last season with a 12-game absence from Gray, who had sustained a foot injury in the 2023 WNBA Finals. She returned to the starting lineup but averaged just 26 minutes in the regular season — a career low since becoming a consistent starter.
Without her, the Aces typically turned to a slightly larger lineup with Plum and Young at the guard positions. They also tried Tiffany Hayes and Kate Martin for a few games. The Aces enter 2025 without three of those four, two of whom were among the team’s top four in scoring. They also lose fan favorite Sydney Colson, who came off the bench in 30 games and started one for Las Vegas last year.
Luckily, Loyd should be easy to slot in Plum’s place, having the added benefit of familiarity with most of the other starters from her time with USA Basketball suiting up with Wilson, Young and Gray. If those four can fall into a quick rhythm, Loyd should be able to add essential scoring support, especially beyond the arc. She made a career-high 115 treys in 2023 for Seattle, which would surpass the 110 made by Plum for the Aces last season.
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Six-time WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd joins the Aces after 10 seasons with the Seattle Storm.Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Final Analysis
The Aces seem poised for another deep run, with championship experience at all five positions. The big question will be whether they can find the right mix of backups to keep a consistent level of play throughout the season, especially if another starter misses significant time.
After experiencing the highs of back-to-back titles, the Aces should come in with some extra fire after an unexpected “down year.” There were too many games in which they looked frustrated and a little lost, surrendering 85-plus points in nine of their 13 regular-season losses. Plus, Hammon really doesn’t seem like a coach who would baby her team in the offseason.
Beyond the Arc
Perfect Harmoni: With their final pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft, the Aces selected Harmoni Turner of Harvard, who has her own unique connection to head coach Becky Hammon. Turner led the Ivy League with 22.5 points and 2.8 steals as a senior and was named the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year.
A’ja’s Accolades: After winning her third WNBA MVP award, Aces center A’ja Wilson was included in Time magazine’s annual “Women of the Year” issue. Among her other accomplishments, Time cited her Olympic gold medal with Team USA, her record-setting season and the upcoming launch of her signature shoe, the Nike A’One, set for release in May in a “Pink Aura” colorway. It has already been spotted on the Miami Heat sidelines worn by players like Bam Adebayo. The A’One will be part of an apparel collection featuring her “star” logo. Wilson also had her No. 22 jersey retired at South Carolina in February.
Front Office Changes: The Las Vegas Aces are set to enter the 2025 season without a general manager in place after cutting ties with Natalie Williams in October. They were still able to benefit from one of the offseason’s biggest trades, so maybe there’s no rush for the franchise, which is still subject to a league investigation regarding bonus payments from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Draft Recap
2. Aaliyah Nye, G/F, 6-0, Alabama
3. Harmoni Turner, G, 5-10, Harvard
Analysis: Without a first-round pick, the Las Vegas Aces were primarily looking to add some interesting options off the bench. Aaliyiah Nye of Alabama seems to fit that bill as a versatile 3-4 who shoots at a 42% clip beyond the arc. At 6-foot-0, Nye probably slots in best as a shooting guard, but unfortunately, that is a deep position on this depth chart. Turner, the 2024-25 Ivy League Player of the Year, posted an eye-catching stat line her senior year: averages of 22.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game. It will be interesting to see how she adjusts to the league and playing a smaller role on this star-studded squad, but her quick hands and ability to score may help Turner impress in training camp.
More WNBA team previews:
Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Sun | Valkyries | Wings
Related: Athlon Sports 2025 WNBA Preview Magazine Available Now
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