Damage Done To LV Aces as 12 WNBA Teams Thanking National Reporter For Exposing A’ja Wilson & Co.’s Major Locker Room Crisis

When we think about a successful team in the WNBA, the first name that pops into most people’s heads is that of the Las Vegas Aces. It has been one of the most dominant teams in recent history, winning back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 but losing in the semi-finals against the New York Liberty after finishing 4th overall in 2024. They had a hard time standing up against Liberty once again in the season opener. The 78-92 loss showed they had a lot more work to do to catch up with the team that is 7-1 against them, dating back to last season.

Despite the loss, A’ja Wilson shone. While they were met with loud boos when their starting lineup was announced in the arena, those were drowned by cheers when the reigning MVP’s name was called. She recorded 31 points and 16 rebounds and started from right where she left off in the previous season. But so did their defensive woes…

The Las Vegas Aces were outscored 56-32 in the paint. The reason could be that they were missing their center, Megan Gustafson, due to lower left leg issues, and forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is currently not available as she is expecting her second child, whereas forward Crystal Bradford is dealing with a suspension. Then, there was center Kiah Stokes, who didn’t add a single point to her seven rebounds. But no, it doesn’t stop here. One of the most renowned analysts, Alexa Philippou, went on to ‘The Ringer WNBA Show’ hosted by Seerat Sohi to discuss how certain aspects of the Aces locker room were problematic and needed immediate attention. When Sohi posed a question regarding the lack of defense by the Aces, Philippou was quick to make a certain point about Aces’ head coach. 

Philippou asserted that coach Becky Hammon was of the view that there was no problem on the roster but rather in the players’ minds, not being able to grasp minute details, and Hammon believes those problems have been resolved over the off-season. Then came issues with their tactical aspects. Philippou noted: “But I am still not sure if they made the moves in the off-season that they needed to properly respond to the issues that the Liberty have posed to them.

“Really getting back to the 2024 season because they are now what won and 1 and 7 against the Liberty, I think since the beginning of 2024, and I just don’t think that’s, again, the they have a completely different look from their bench. I don’t think they haven’t improved in terms of that size component to really respond on the defensive end. I just don’t see anything that makes me believe that it’s really gonna improve at this point.”

All the teams in the W will be ecstatic hearing this news about the Aces, as they will know how to beat the reigning MVP, A’ja Wilson, and her team. Being an undersized team will hinder the chances of the Aces to make a deeper run in the 2025 season. Teams like the Minnesota Lynx, boasting a deep bench, and the Indiana Fever, led by MVP frontrunner Caitlin Clark, are poised to challenge Las Vegas’ dominance.

However, the Las Vegas Aces made a big trade blunder before the 2025 season that might have put the nail in their coffin.

Do the Las Vegas Aces regret trading Kelsey Plum?

Kelsey Plum had been one of the hardest-fighting guards for the Las Vegas Aces. After spending her entire career with the franchise, the 3x All-Star and 2021 Sixth Player of the Year was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks.

In a three-team trade that took place earlier this year, the Las Vegas Aces acquired Seattle’s Jewell Loyd, the 2023 WNBA scoring leader, aiming to enhance their offense with her 24.7 points per game from 2023. However, her 2024 average dipped to 19.7 points, raising concerns about her fit with the team.

On the other hand, Plum had been a key figure in the Aces’ back-to-back championship runs and was a force to be reckoned with. Although fairly sized for a guard, Plum never let her height be an issue as she went on against the best in the league. But even after spending several seasons with the team, Becky Hammon decided to trade Plum and might already be paying a price for it. 

Plum began her season with the Los Angeles Sparks, thriving in a leadership role alongside Dearica Hamby. In her debut, she delivered a record-setting performance, scoring 37 points—the most ever in a WNBA season opener—and added six assists and five steals, leading the Sparks to an 84–67 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. This standout game has quickly made her one of the most talked-about players of the season.

What’s more interesting is the fact that during the Aces’ home opener, their guards struggled to have a decent game. Loyd scored 24 points but shot inefficiently, and the backcourt leaned heavily on Wilson’s heroics, especially in the absence of Chelsea Gray. This will put a lot of doubt in the mind of Aces’ supporters as they lost one of their most reliable players on the team.

A’ja Wilson and her teammates will be looking to bounce back against the Liberty when they face each other again in August. Hammon and the Aces need to work on their defensive traits if they have any expectations of having a good season.

With a thin frontcourt and new faces like Loyd still gelling, the Aces’ dynasty is under threat, and Philippou’s analysis has given rivals a playbook to challenge them.