A’ja Wilson Rejects Championship Talk as MVP Contention Runs Through Injury-Filled Season

For many, thirteen is considered unlucky—but for A’ja Wilson, it’s become a number to remember. The Las Vegas Aces rolled into their matchup against the Chicago Sky riding a thirteen-game win streak, fueled by Wilson’s MVP-caliber performances. True to form, she poured in 31 points, securing a fourteenth straight victory. The game also marked her 13th outing with 30 or more points this season, setting a new single-season WNBA record and cementing her status as one of the league’s most dominant players. Despite the streak, there’s a sense that Wilson isn’t entirely caught up in the championship talk.

Wilson is firing on all cylinders, and the Aces, currently second in the standings, look unstoppable. With their dominant play, fans are naturally quick to draw comparisons to Las Vegas’ back-to-back championship runs in 2022 and 2023, seasons when Wilson not only led the team to consecutive titles but also claimed the league MVP in 2022. On paper, the season appears to mirror past successes, yet Wilson, speaking immediately after the team’s 14-point triumph over Chicago, was emphatic: this campaign feels entirely different. But what is different?

When asked if this season feels like Las Vegas’ 2022–23 championship runs, A’ja Wilson was quick to dismiss the comparison. “Not really. And honestly, I was going in thinking like, ‘Oh, this feels like 22.’ It doesn’t. It doesn’t at all. And I don’t even know if I could put into words how it’s completely different. I just know for a fact it does not feel like our past two championship years.” she explained, emphasizing that past successes don’t define the present challenge.

The numbers underscore her perspective: in 2022 and 2023, the Aces compiled historic regular seasons, posting win percentages of .722 and .850 and losing only 16 games combined. Once the playoffs began, they were virtually unbeatable, dropping just three games across two championship runs—a level of dominance Wilson insists this season doesn’t yet reflect.

Yes, this season tells a different story. Las Vegas leads the WNBA with 87.4 points per game and shoots 46.9 percent from the field, second-best in the league. Yet Wilson insists the magic isn’t the same. Why? She

believes the difference is the competition. Minnesota, New York, and Atlanta have all pushed the Aces to their limits.

A’ja even credited that level of competition for sparking the current win streak. “I don’t know if because we stunk before the All-Star or what, but this is a different feeling. I think it’s just more grit. It’s a lot more just coming from within versus what I feel like in the 2022 and 2023 season, we were just kind of like flowing, and it was just like everyone was trying to figure us out. So, we were going at our own pace. But I think this one is like we’re really trying to dissect the game because we know how to value the two points in the games that are at hand. So, yeah, it’s very different.”

The “stink” Wilson referred to stemmed from the Aces’ rocky stretch leading up to the All-Star break. Between May and July (especially June & July), Las Vegas struggled to maintain consistency, dropping games (6 in June, 5 in July) and searching for any semblance of rhythm. Wilson herself battled through multiple setbacks, including a concussion, a wrist injury sustained against the New York Liberty, and lingering pain that kept her off the floor at times. WNBA reporter Callie Fin captured the severity of the situation:

“This is probably the most that A’ja has dealt with injury-wise in her career. You know, she had a concussion a little bit earlier in the year and then had a wrist injury that she sustained against the New York Liberty, and then was also dealing with some stuff that she’s just continued to play through.”

Wilson’s absences left noticeable gaps in the Aces’ rotation, and questions about roster depth mounted—especially as head coach Becky Hammon and the front office opted against any midseason additions. Critics were quick to slam the lack of reinforcements, yet Hammon remained steadfast, emphasizing her faith in the players she had. At the time, uncertainty lingered. Now, with Wilson fully healthy, the Aces have surged back into form. Fourteen straight wins later, they’re no longer just contenders—they’re legitimate favorites, a resurgence sparked in large part by Wilson’s leadership and determination.

A’ja Wilson forged the path for the Aces’ win streak

The Las Vegas Aces look unstoppable right now. Sure, you can give credit to Wilson for delivering MVP-caliber performance. But other players have stepped up, too. Guard Jackie Young has stepped up significantly, now averaging 16.5 points per game and taking more ball-handling duties after the departure of key scorer Kelsey Plum in a trade, creating a more balanced offensive threat. Kiah Stokes has embraced a defensive role, helping shore up depth and adaptability on the roster.

Chelsea Gray and NaLyssa Smith are providing a well-rounded support to the team on both ends of the court. The team has come together, and Wilson had a role to play in that. Before their win streak, they were defeated by Minnesota, 111-58. It was a beating down to say the least. But Aces flipped the script thanks to a pep talk from Wilson. Aces announcer Krista Blunk had put it plainly: “The 53-point loss against Minnesota was the gut punch. A’ja Wilson talked with Becky Hammon, and said it won’t happen again, and talked to every single player on the team and said, ‘If you were okay with that and not embarrassed, then we don’t need you.’” 

This warning invigorated the team, leading to another title push. Results? The next time Minnesota showed up to face Las Vegas, they defeated them with a 10-point margin. The Las Vegas look stronger than ever, and like A’ja Wilson, this 2025 season will turn out differently for them, maybe for the better.