Last season, A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces pulled one of the most surprising championship runs in WNBA history. Given their overall performance during the regular season, analyst Rachel DeMita doesn’t think that the Aces should have been the team to take the championship home.

In the first 28 games, Las Vegas stood below the top five teams in the league with a poor 14-14 record. Just when it looked like their dynastic run was over, the Aces recovered, putting together a 16-game win streak. Despite their impressive late-season run, DeMita looked at the whole season.

“I don’t think the Aces should have won the chip last year, just based on simply how good they were for the whole of the season. It felt kind of like a fluke to me that they won. And this is not taking away from them. That just goes to show you how much they really turned it around towards the end of the season,” DeMita said in her Courtside Club podcast on Monday, August 17.

Following their 14-14 record, the Aces never lost again in the season, winning all of their remaining 16 games. They recorded the second-longest winning streak (Sparks 18 games in 2001) in league history.

However, DeMita proceeded to make a bigger point. This season, the picture is similar. The Minnesota Lynx are looking like a clear-cut favorite, but according to the WNBA analyst, downplaying the Aces’ threat would be foolish.

“And this is not taking away from them. That just goes to show you how much they really turned it around towards the end of the season. You can’t count them out ever,” she added.

The Aces’ roster features some of the biggest stars in the league, including the best player in the WNBA. They have the most championship experience among all teams in the last few years. Last week, they officially qualified for the playoffs in their 8th straight season.

Come playoff time, they have every possibility to turn into a formidable force. In 36 games so far this season, Las Vegas is ranked 3rd in the league with a 24-12 record. Only league leaders Minnesota Lynx (29-7) and second-placed Golden State Valkyries (25-9) have a better record than the Aces.

However, this season is a little different. The Lynx don’t just look like a challenger to the defending champions. They are the heavy favorites to win it all. So what can the Aces do?

A’ja Wilson and the Aces need to address their defense if they want to defend their title.

Even at this point of the season, Las Vegas can qualify as one of the title favorites. They have the third-best offense in the league, and having the best player on the team is always a plus.

However, such edges always fall short against elite teams like the Lynx, who are consistent on both ends. The Aces don’t have strong legs on defense.

A’ja Wilson and Co. have struggled on the defensive end, failing on rebounding, which, according to Becky Hammon, will be crucial for their title hopes.

“Our season depends on defense and rebounding… And I’m going to continue to demand it. It’s that important. I didn’t think we did a great job tonight,” Hammon told reporters after the Aces’ win over the Mystics on August 12.

The Aces are 8th in defensive rating, which is below 50% of the teams, and 7th in rebounding. They are also 11th in steals per game with 3.8. The numbers are simple. Las Vegas has a lot of work to do if they want any chance against teams like New York and Minnesota.

This season, they have faced both the Liberty and the Lynx multiple times. They have faced the New York Liberty four times, including the Commissioner’s Cup, and have won only one of those four matches. Meanwhile, they’ve faced the Lynx thrice and also won once, and that should raise the alarm.

Wilson is the best player in the league, both on offense and defense. But she can’t do it all by herself and carry her team past opponents. The Aces will have to find their defensive identity because the Minnesota Lynx have looked nearly invincible in the last 15 games, losing only one, and look like favorites to win the title.