A’ja Wilson and Aces could steal No. 2 seed during final WNBA week
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A’ja Wilson and Aces could steal No. 2 seed during final WNBA week originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The most dangerous team entering the WNBA playoffs may not be the one sitting atop the standings. Las Vegas returns from the World Cup break with a 27-13 record and a three-game winning streak. The Aces currently occupy the No. 3 seed, but a favorable closing schedule gives them a legitimate opportunity to pass Golden State for second.
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Las Vegas trails the Valkyries by two games with four remaining. The Aces own the head-to-head tiebreaker after sweeping their three regular-season meetings with Golden State.
If Las Vegas gains two games during the final week, it would move into the No. 2 seed. The Aces will not face another playoff team before the postseason begins.
They play consecutive games against Seattle, beginning Thursday at Climate Pledge Arena and continuing Sunday in Las Vegas. The Aces then host Los Angeles before completing the regular season at Phoenix.
Seattle, Los Angeles and Phoenix have been eliminated.
Las Vegas could benefit from Wilson’s extended break
A’ja Wilson did not compete in the World Cup after withdrawing from Team USA before the tournament. A specific reason for her absence was not announced. That gave Wilson more than two weeks without a WNBA game before Las Vegas returns Thursday.
The four-time WNBA MVP was averaging 26 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists when league play paused. She remains the player around whom every opponent must build its defensive plan. Wilson’s ability to control games at both ends of the floor makes Las Vegas different from other teams attempting to improve their seed. The Aces do not need to discover a postseason formula. Their core already knows how to win at this stage.
Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray give Las Vegas an experienced backcourt capable of taking pressure away from Wilson. Jewell Loyd adds another proven perimeter scorer.
The Aces also made an intriguing late addition by bringing in 6-foot-7 center Kalani Brown. Her size provides another option against teams with physical frontcourts.
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Aces have realistic path to first-round advantage
Las Vegas already is positioned to host a first-round series, but moving from third to second could significantly affect its postseason route. If the current standings hold, the Aces would meet the sixth-seeded New York Liberty. That matchup would feature several players returning from the World Cup, including tournament MVP Breanna Stewart.
Moving to second could produce a series against Washington or Dallas instead. The schedule favors Las Vegas, but the Aces must avoid playing down to eliminated opponents. Seattle has little to lose and gets two immediate opportunities to disrupt their seeding push.
The Storm also will play without Katie Lou Samuelson, who underwent a procedure on her left knee and will miss the final four games.
Las Vegas should be favored in every remaining game. That does not guarantee four victories, especially after a long break that can interrupt timing and rhythm.
The stakes extend beyond catching Golden State. Atlanta and Indiana are only one game behind Las Vegas. A poor finish could move the Aces from third to fourth or fifth, costing them a first-round home-court advantage.
The Aces enter the restart with an opportunity to move up and a warning against slipping back. With Wilson rested, four eliminated opponents remaining and the Golden State tiebreaker secured, no contender has a more inviting final-week path.