In a huge boost for the Las Vegas Aces, the WNBA has reportedly announced that the Aces forward A’ja Wilson will not be receiving any additional punishment for an incident that involved Wilson and a fan sitting courtside in Game 2 of the Round 1 series. However, Becky Hammon had no idea about the league’s course of action as the Aces headed into the series finale against the Indiana Fever.
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“I haven’t heard from the league. I haven’t spoken to the league. I know they’ve spoken to other people. They have not spoken to me. A’ja’s fully available and ready to rock,” Hammon said at the pre-game press conference.
“I mean, I Asia get pushed and shoved, and there was no response. So there just comes to a certain point, I think, a lot of variables come into…the exchange. That happened the other night. I stand ten toes down with the character of A’ja Wilson… I know the person in the situation. So I trust that person in any situation. And she’ll be great tonight. I have no doubt.”
The league’s decision vindicated Hammon’s faith. As per a Reuters report, Wilson will not face suspension due to her actions during Game 2. This was previously a fear, as OutKick writer Jon Root has questioned why Wilson was not ejected from the game immediately after her actions.
“Why was Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson not ejected for entering the stands in Game 2 vs Fever? According to Rule 12A, Section V: Any player, coach, or trainer who deliberately enters the spectator stands during a game will be automatically ejected,” Root wrote on X.
The incident happened in Game 2 at the Gainsbridge Fieldhouse in the fourth quarter, with around four minutes left on the clock. After a physical play involving Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham, Wilson was steadying herself when a fan stood up from the sidelines. The fan was caught saying something to Wilson while pointing at her.
Wilson then moved in the direction of a fan sitting courtside. The duo got into a heated exchange, and Wilson’s teammates and officials later had to separate them. A’ja Wilson was handed a technical foul for “unsportsmanlike conduct,” but was not ejected from the game.
Now it has been determined that Wilson did not leave the player escape lane, as she got into an exchange with the fan. The player escape lane is located beside the stanchion and is not located within the stands. If Wilson had escaped this lane, then the punishment could have been severe.
Wilson later explained her actions.
“If I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said. I don’t give a damn how you said it, the tone; that is unacceptable,” Wilson said after the game.
“You don’t know me to step toward me and point at me. I’m not for that s*** at all. That there is unacceptable.”
As things stand, the Aces are leading 77-70 in Game 3 against the Fever, with 6:29 left in the fourth quarter. Wilson, once again, is leading from the front, having scored 31 points so far in the game. Jackie Young has scored 16, and Chelsea Gray has added 15 points so far.
For the Fever, Caitlin Clark has added 16 points so far, along with Aliyah Boston. Kelsey Mitchell has added another 15 points. If the Aces can hold on to their lead, this development regarding Wilson is a huge boost for them.
Hammon is right in emphasizing Wilson’s importance for the Aces. Wilson will be the main anchor and playmaker for this team as they look to defend their title this season. Wilson has been in fine form this season, and the reigning MVP has put up numbers that justify another individual best player award this season.
In 41 regular-season games, Wilson has averaged 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game this season, leading the league in PPG. She also led the league in blocks per game, with 1.9, while finishing fifth in rebounds per game, with 9.4. Game 1 of the series against the Fever saw Wilson drop a monster 38 points to go with her 16 rebounds.
If the Aces win this series against the Fever, they will face the winner of the Dallas Wings-Golden State Valkyries series.
Both Dallas Wings and GS Valkyries are formidable opponents in their own right. In a limited game series, having Wilson sit out any game would have been potentially catastrophic for the Aces.
Only time will tell how the playoff brackets shape up.