The Las Vegas Aces will face New York without A’ja Wilson in Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game.
Wilson has been ruled out with a right leg injury after twisting her right ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 107-99 win over the Chicago Sky. She briefly went to the locker room, returned to the bench, checked back in and still finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds.
The update changes the shape of Tuesday’s game at Barclays Center. Wilson had not missed a game this season and has carried another MVP-level workload for Las Vegas, averaging 25.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, two blocks and 1.6 steals through 19 games.
Now the Aces have to solve New York without their best player.
Big absence
Wilson’s absence is a major basketball loss and a major showcase loss.
The Commissioner’s Cup final still brings together two recent champions. Las Vegas has won three of the last four WNBA titles, while New York won its first championship in 2024.
It also matches two of the league’s top teams. The Aces enter 14-5, while the Liberty enter 12-8.
But Wilson is the center of almost everything Las Vegas does. She anchors the defense, covers mistakes, controls the glass and gives the Aces their most reliable half-court option.
That mattered even more after Sunday’s win in Chicago, when Becky Hammon and Wilson both left unhappy with the defensive performance despite the Aces scoring 107 points.
“We better fix our defense overnight here or else we’re going to get smacked by 30 in New York,” Hammon said after the Chicago game.
That warning now comes with a much harder assignment.
Liberty lesson
New York already gave Las Vegas problems last week.
The Liberty beat the Aces 87-76 at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 23. New York led for 94 percent of the game, built a 19-point lead and controlled the 3-point line.
The Liberty shot 13-for-31 from deep, while the Aces went 8-for-27. New York also scored 19 points off turnovers and held Las Vegas to eight free throw attempts.
Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Sabrina Ionescu added 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Jonquel Jones scored 14, Leonie Fiebich hit four 3s and Han Xu added 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting.
That balance stretched the Aces with Wilson on the floor.
Without her, Las Vegas will need a cleaner, more connected defensive game from the full roster.
Sabally also out
New York will also be without Satou Sabally, who remains in concussion protocol.
Sabally left last week’s game in Las Vegas after taking an unintentional elbow from NaLyssa Smith while battling for a rebound. She has since missed time and will not play Tuesday.
Her absence matters, but New York already won the first meeting without much production from her. Sabally played eight minutes and did not score in that game.
The Liberty still controlled the matchup through Stewart, Ionescu, Jones, Fiebich and Han.
That makes Wilson’s absence the larger swing point.
Aces’ next answer
Las Vegas still has high-end creators.
Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd will have to carry more scoring and playmaking responsibility. NaLyssa Smith, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and the rest of the frontcourt will have to handle more of the rebounding and interior coverage.
Young is coming off a 28-point, eight-assist game in Chicago. Gray had 18 points and eight assists, while Loyd hit two important 3s in the third quarter and moved into ninth on the Aces’ franchise 3-point list.
That production matters more now.
The Aces are not just trying to win a Cup final. They are trying to show they can respond to the Liberty’s size, shooting and balance without the player who usually gives them the clearest answer.
Up next
The Aces face the Liberty on Tuesday in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game at Barclays Center. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. PT on Prime Video.
Related stories
Aces face Liberty Cup test with Hammon’s warning still ringing
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
