A’ja Wilson Turns Early-Season Setbacks Into Fuel as Aces’ Locker Room Locks in for Playoffs

Earth to Vegas, Earth to Vegas. Do you copy? Because the Aces are operating in another galaxy entirely, and that has left the rest of the W with shivering timbers. Not long ago, this team was spiraling. On July 10, they were two games under .500 and staring down the possibility of missing the playoffs altogether. Then came the nadir, two run-ins with Minnesota in the span of eight days that left scars. The first was a 31-point smackdown, the second, a 53-point humiliation so brutal it felt like you had to cover your eyes.

Yet, here we are. Vegas’ win over Atlanta on Wednesday vaulted them into the No. 2 seed while extending the winning streak to 12. The timing couldn’t be better, as the very team that torched them (the league-leading Lynx) waits on September 4. At 26-14, Vegas can’t take away Minnesota’s (30-7) top seed, but they can challenge their pride, and maybe even Napheesa Collier’s MVP case.

A’ja Wilson knows that Vegas flipped it, too. Asked what flipped the switch for this team, she didn’t mince words: “I feel like for us is like in the beginning of the season getting torched. Uh, that really can – can you touch that stove when you know it’s hot. And I think we’ve learned our lesson.” She explained further: “Even when we play against great teams and how they can have a great first quarter or a great third quarter, [we know] how to weather storms and be resilient in the moment and make adjustments.”

Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) prior to game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

And the proof is in the pudding. The Aces have beaten the #2 Dream (twice), the #4 Mercury (twice), and the #5 Liberty. This is no cupcake schedule. In the process, they even tied a franchise record first set in 2012, back when Becky Hammon was still wearing the jersey instead of the suit. Now, as mentioned earlier, comes the true test. September 4, under Vegas lights, against the same Lynx who last forced Becky Hammon to hand her squad an “F.”

Moreover, an even bigger question lingers: even if the Aces get their revenge, can they blast past Minnesota (and the rest of the championship contenders) to finish this season on another planet entirely?

A’ja Wilson Powers the Aces’ Orbit

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