The New York Liberty, led by a career high 34 points from Jonquel Jones, weathered the Ace’s early storm and cruised to victory. The Aces dropped to 6-6 on the season after their most recent 90-82 loss. This finals rematch featured 5 members of Team USA and 3 previous MVPs. This was a game of runs and certainly didn’t disappoint.
The sixth loss of the season matches the Aces’ loss total from last year and we are only 12 games into the season. This poor start is with A’ja Wilson playing at a level this league has rarely seen; scoring 25 points in 8 consecutive games before the loss to the Liberty. Jackie Young has also improved her playmaking abilities averaging 6 assists a game but neither of these things have translated to team success this season. For any other team in the league, this would be the time to press the panic button but not in this case with the Aces. They have known the answer to their problems this whole time which is the return of the point God, Chelsea Gray. Check out this pass and you’ll understand why that nickname is no exaggeration.
CHELSEA GRAY PASS OF THE YEAR!? 😱 | WNBA on ESPN
It’s important not to be a prisoner of the moment. Chelsea Gray is the 2022 finals MVP on a team with A’ja Wilson, no small feat. Her playmaking and clutch shot-making are greatly missed. Last season she notched 7 assists per game and was the clear best point guard in the league. Without her, the Aces feel much less connected as they have not been able to capture the same seamless flow to their offense that most WNBA fans are used to seeing. If you are a WNBA fan then you miss seeing Chelsea Gray healthy because she brings so much to the team. The Aces don’t just miss Chelsea Gray but they are showing that they need her. She is the key to the success of the Las Vegas Aces and while disappointed with their record, they should feel extremely optimistic with Gray set to play again soon. I will make the bold claim that when Chelsea Gray returns to the starting lineup, the Aces will win every single remaining game in the regular season.
For those who have forgotten and those unfamiliar with Chelsea Gray allow me to jog your memory. She is a 3x WNBA Champion, 2022 Finals MVP, 5x All-Star, 2x All-WNBA Second Team selection, and a Gold Medalist. Looking past her stats, if you have had the privilege of watching a fully healthy Las Vegas Aces squad then you know she is the engine of the team. Aja Wilson is certainly the best player on the squad and in the league, but Chelsea Gray’s absence has confirmed she is the most important piece of the puzzle.
With her return around the corner, the Aces will be more motivated and desperate to win than they have ever been. Due to her absence, every player has had to take on an increased role and it’s clear that this has had a large impact on their mentality and energy levels. The quality of looks will improve drastically as there will be less of a necessity for the stars to create their own shots. The otherworldy performances by A’ja Wilson and the superstar play of Jackie Young have been enough to keep this team afloat until Gray is back but her return will mean go-time for the Aces and I expect them to respond to this challenge by once again establishing themselves as the best team in the league.
The problem isn’t the talent on the roster, they lack depth, but the quality their starters possess is enough for them to be the best team in the league like last season. The main issue is that without Gray they can’t win on talent alone and are no longer striking fear into their opponents because their energy is radiating stress. They are lacking the ultra-competitive spirit needed to thrive in this league and the rest of the WNBA is showing them they will be punished if they don’t play with the appropriate energy. This is highlighted well by Coach Becky Hammon who gave extremely honest feedback regarding the current state of her squad. She mentions the team’s lack of edge and how she felt this from the beginning of the season.
Becky Hammon on Aces Early Season Struggles
Coach Hammon isn’t one to make excuses and does her best not to attribute the recent lack of success to Chelsea Gray being out, however, even she mentions the large void that she will fill. Her return will mark the start of a massive winning streak for the Aces and a chance at winning a 3rd WNBA championship in a row. This coupled with the fact that A’ja Wilson is the best leader in the league should give Aces fans all the confidence in the world. If you think that this team is going to sit idly and watch their season slip out of their hands I would like you to listen to this clip of A’ja Wilson breaking down emtotionally because of how much she wants her team to succeed. Don’t count the Aces just yet.