The 2025 WNBA season tipped off in dramatic fashion, but one game stole the spotlight–the New York Liberty’s statement win over the Las Vegas Aces. The defending champs sent a strong message, toppling A’ja Wilson’s squad in a battle that had everyone talking. The Aces came into the season with a few gaps after losing key players like Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, and Sydney Colson due to salary cap constraints. They did land All-Star Jewell Loyd to help steady the ship, but if opening night was any indication, the road ahead could be a bumpy one for Las Vegas!

Breanna Stewart dropped 25 points and Natasha Cloud chipped in with 22 as the New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 92-78 on Saturday to open their season in style. The win came right after New York unveiled its 2024 WNBA championship banner at the Barclays Center, adding even more weight to the night.

Postgame, A’ja Wilson didn’t hold back in her assessment. “I think it was a lot on us. Like, don’t get it twisted—New York is going to be New York. They’re a great team. But a lot of things we did were self-inflicted, and that’s what really hurts the most,” she said. “But we’ve got another game at it. It’s just the beginning.”

Even though the Aces came up short, A’ja Wilson put on an absolute clinic. She led all scorers with 31 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block while shooting 11-of-22 from the field. She was clearly the standout for Las Vegas and understandably looked a bit frustrated after the game. Still, Wilson knows there’s plenty of talent on the roster, and a turnaround is well within reach. Coach Becky Hammon also shared her thoughts on the loss, offering a grounded assessment of what went wrong. And if you’re an Aces fan, let’s just say–this might not be the most comforting update to hear!

She said, “I thought we got good looks. You know, in the first half we just missed them. Jewell had some wide-open ones–just missed. One of those nights. We’ll live with that. Those are going to go down most nights; they just didn’t tonight. But the problem–I mean, the shooting was the shooting. I was more upset with the defense. The points in the paint, with Cloud just turning the corner on us, Stewie slipping to the rim–those are layups. And you can’t give up layups in this league. Conversely, I thought we missed a few layups.”

She’s not wrong. A’ja Wilson did what she always does—completely dominated. But the rest of the Aces? Not so much. They went 17-of-50 from two-point range, and 10 of those buckets came from Wilson alone. But that wasn’t all. They added just 13 points in the second quarter! And Jewell Loyd’s debut? One to forget as well. She went 2-for-10 from the field and looked out of rhythm all night. Defensively, it wasn’t much better either. The Aces let New York shoot nearly 50% from the floor. That’s not going to cut it–especially against a team like the Liberty.

While Jewell Loyd struggled in her Aces debut, the player she replaced?  Well, she went on to break W records in her debut! Let’s take a look at that!

Kelsey Plum adds to A’ja Wilson and Aces’ woes

Kelsey Plum, a back-to-back WNBA champ with the Aces, made headlines this offseason. She joined the Los Angeles Sparks in a blockbuster three-team trade involving the Aces and the Seattle Storm. The same trade sent Jewell Loyd to Vegas. It wasn’t just any deal–it was the first trade in W history to include multiple first-round picks. A massive move. But Plum? She just kept doing what she does best.

The guard set a brand new WNBA record for the most points ever scored in a season opener. The veteran guard was on fire–going 11-of-19 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the line. She dropped a career-high 37 points against the league’s newest team, the Golden State Valkyries. Now that’s how you announce your arrival!

It’s clear that A’ja Wilson will miss having a player of Plum’s caliber beside her–any team would. However, the Aces still have plenty of talent on their roster, and it will be interesting to see how coach Becky Hammon addresses the challenges ahead. Fans will be watching closely to see what adjustments she makes as the season progresses. Stay tuned to find out!