Last season, A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces pulled off one of the most surprising championship runs in WNBA history. Becky Hammon’s side turned things around in spectacular fashion, winning 25 of their final 28 games to secure their third championship. Yet, despite their dominant finish, analyst Rachel DeMita has a very different take on the Aces’ title-winning 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,” DeMita said in her Courtside Club podcast on Monday, August 17.

DeMita does make a valid point. Through their first 28 games, Las Vegas sat outside the league’s top five with a middling 14-14 record. But everything changed after the Aces suffered a stunning 53-point drubbing at the hands of the Minnesota Lynx.

The embarrassing defeat clearly struck a nerve with A’ja Wilson, who wasn’t about to let the team crumble.

“If you weren’t embarrassed from yesterday, then don’t come into this gym,” she challenged her teammates. Her words sparked an incredible response from the Aces, who ripped off a 16-game winning streak, the second-longest in WNBA history, before entering the playoffs as the No. 2 seed.

The playoffs weren’t smooth sailing either. The Aces had to win the series decider against both the Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever to advance, which further reiterates the point DeMita was trying to make.

But having favorable breaks only gets you so far in the postseason. When the championship was on the line, the Aces still needed their superstar to deliver, and A’ja Wilson stepped up.

Wilson scored 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Game 4, hit a clutch game-winner in Game 3, and became the first player in WNBA Finals history to record three consecutive games with 25-plus points and 10-plus rebounds.

Her performances helped the Aces sweep the Phoenix Mercury in the first best-of-seven WNBA Finals in league history, and in the process, Wilson became the first player ever to win the rare trifecta of MVP, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

And DeMita herself gave the Aces credit for how they turned their season around. “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.

While last season was truly a special one for the Aces and definitely not a “fluke” by any means, repeating that success won’t be easy. As DeMita pointed out, the Aces remain a team that can never be counted out, but there are still some glaring issues they’ll need to address if they want to defend their title.

A’ja Wilson and Co. Remain Contenders, But There’s Work to Do

The Aces aren’t short on star power. Alongside A’ja Wilson, who is averaging a league-best 26.1 points, along with 9.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 steals while shooting 52.3% from the field, Las Vegas also has one of the league’s strongest supporting casts.

Jackie Young is averaging 18.4 points and 6.7 assists per game, while Chelsea Gray is contributing 12.3 points and 7.1 assists. Jewell Loyd provides another scoring option with 8.1 points per game, while NaLyssa Smith rounds out the group with 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.

They became the second team to qualify for the playoffs and currently sit third in the league with a 24-12 record, while also boasting the WNBA’s third-best offense. Only the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (29-7) and second-placed Golden State Valkyries (25-9) have a better record than the Aces.

However, 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 9th in defensive rating, putting them outside the top half of the league, while they rank 8th in rebounding. They are also 11th in steals per game at 6.8, numbers you wouldn’t necessarily expect from a Becky Hammon-coached team.

There’s also another concerning trend emerging for the Aces. They’ve faced the New York Liberty four times this season, including once in the Commissioner’s Cup, but have managed just one win. Against the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas has also gone 1-2 across three meetings.

Unless the Aces can address these issues, going back-to-back this season could prove difficult, especially with other teams currently looking more likely to win the championship.

Minnesota Lynx Emerge as Clear Favorites to Win the Championship

No one expected the Lynx to be here, especially after losing the likes of Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith, Bridget Carleton, DiJonai Carrington and Natisha Hiedeman, while also having Napheesa Collier sidelined to start the season.

But despite all of that, Cheryl Reeve’s side became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. A major part of their success can be attributed to how rookie Olivia Miles has performed.

Miles is currently putting together one of the best rookie seasons the league has ever seen, averaging 19.9 points and 6.1 assists per game. She has been ably supported by sharpshooter Kayla McBride, who is averaging 18.2 points per game while shooting 42.3% from three-point range.

With Collier sidelined, Natasha Howard stepped up to anchor the frontcourt, putting up 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 58.7% from the field. Alongside her, Courtney Williams has provided a steady presence in the backcourt, averaging 14.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.

With Phee now back, the Lynx head into the postseason for the second consecutive year as the favorites to win the championship. But they aren’t the only team in the mix.

The Golden State Valkyries are another team to watch out for. Natalie Nakase’s side became the third team to qualify for the playoffs and currently boasts the best defense in the league. Their recent form makes them even more dangerous, with the Valkyries going 19-4 in their last 23 games. If they can carry that momentum into the playoffs, they could be a serious threat to anyone standing in their way.

There’s the Indiana Fever as well, who have managed to deal with the pressure off the court while continuing to win on it. Caitlin Clark has been enjoying a strong run of form lately and now owns the most Player of the Week awards this season, while her backcourt partner Kelsey Mitchell just recorded her 19th consecutive game with 20-plus points. The duo has helped Indiana become the league’s best offensive team, and Stephanie White’s side will certainly be another team to watch out for in the playoffs.

So, the Aces may not be the outright favorites to win the championship this season, especially with so many teams making a strong case for the title. But as DeMita pointed out, if there’s one team you should never count out, it’s the Aces.