The preseason matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury wasn’t just any game, it was A’One Night. A celebration of A’ja Wilson and her brand-new signature shoe. On the court, while the Aces walked away with the W, the Mercury didn’t go down easy. Their new-look squad showed signs of serious firepower and just lost by one-point.

Well, that was just the appetizer. Now it’s the first regular season game. Both teams are riding high after wins over Dallas. And they’re both sitting at four losses apiece. As they face off again on Sunday, June 15, at 6 p.m. ET, Mercury will be missing one of their Big 3, but with the way both squads are built, the star power is still off the charts. However, is captain Wilson suiting up? 

A’ja Wilson status vs Mercury

Bad news for Aces fans as A’ja Wilson won’t be suiting up tonight. She’s officially ruled out as she continues to go through concussion protocol. Remember that nasty hit she took during the Sparks game? It’s still keeping her sidelined. She already missed Friday’s win over Dallas, and now this’ll be her second straight absence.

Still, the Aces managed to grab a win without her last time out, and they’ll be looking to do it again against Phoenix. Along with WIlson, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Megan Gustafson are out. 

On the other side, Kahleah Copper, Kalani Brown and Megan McConnell are officially out.

Projected starting lineups

Las Vegas Aces

• Chelsea Gray
• Jewell Loyd
• Jackie Young
• Elizabeth Kitley
• Kiah Stokes

Phoenix Mercury

• Monique Akoa Makani
• Sami Whitcomb
• Alyssa Thomas
• Kathyrn Westbeld
• Satou Sabally

Can the Aces pick up a second win without A’ja Wilson?

Jackie Young wasn’t messing around on Friday. She dropped 28 points and grabbed 5 boards, and she didn’t miss a single free throw (11-for-11!). That win bumped the Aces up to a 5-4 record, which has them sitting fourth in the West, just half a game behind Seattle. But tonight, it’s going to be a shootout – literally. The Mercury, led by Satou Sabally, are draining threes this season. They’re averaging 9.8 per game, one of the best rates in the league. And the Aces are not far behind at 9.4.

But overall, Phoenix has been cooking lately. They’re coming off a big 13-point win, and Sabally is having the best WNBA season ever. The best part is.. it’s not just her. Rookies like Lexi Held, Kitija Laksa, and Kathyrn Westbeld have been giving the Mercury serious depth. And if Copper returns, that trio of Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, and Copper could be dangerous. Like, championship-level dangerous.

Meanwhile, the Aces… well, they haven’t exactly lived up to the hype so far. Their defense has been shaky, giving up 47.3% shooting to opponents – second worst in the league. And their rebounding is rough. They’re allowing 36.3 boards a game, also near the bottom. Safe to say, the departures of Kelsey Plum and Alysha Clark really hit them hard – on both ends of the court. And without A’ja, they’re missing their biggest anchor.

Quick History Check:
The Aces are 48-54 all-time against the Mercury but dominated the 2024 series, winning 3 out of 4. They’ve taken 15 of the last 21 regular season games between the two.

Prediction:

Tonight, with momentum on Phoenix’s side and Vegas still trying to find their rhythm and missing A’ja Wilson, we’re leaning toward the Phoenix Mercury to take this one.