We are back for another week of WNBA season previews. With the draft complete, the rosters are set. So once a week until the season is back, I will be looking at one team. I will discuss their changes and what to expect from them this season.
To build up, I will be going in reverse order from the standings a season ago. The final preview is finally here and it is for the reigning champions, the title favorites, the true face of the league. Of course, I am referring to the Las Vegas Aces. Somehow, even after a stunning season, the team got even better. But before looking forward, let’s look back.
Almost everything went absolutely perfectly for the Las Vegas Aces a season ago. The featured player section this week should surprise no one, so we will get into A’ja Wilson’s accomplishments shortly.
2022 Recap
Kelsey Plum exploded, realizing the potential she always hinted at with her play. She finished second in the league in scoring, posting a line of 20.2 points, 5.1 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. In her first All-Star season, she was the All-Star MVP.
Speaking of realized potential, goodness gracious Jackie Young took a step forward. She posted career highs across the board: 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Encouraged by new coach Becky Hammon, Young realized she was allowed to step behind the arc and let it fly. She attempted a career-high 3.4 per game and converted at a 43.1 percent clip. That is the second-best mark in the league for anyone attempting at least three per game (minimum 10 games).
Chelsea Gray is the last player that got significant minutes that truly stood out, but man did she. The Point Gawd reached another stratosphere in the postseason, leading the team in points (21.7), assists (7.0), and steals (1.2) per game. This was the true difference-maker for the team overall. As the benches shortened and they were going for their first title, Gray stepped into a role she had not been asked to fill all season.
Benches shortened is not a misnomer by the way. Only six players for the Aces logged more the 8.5 minutes per game in the postseason. That seventh player, Dearica Hamby, was once an integral part of this organization. The news around her treatment and departure from Vegas soured some of the good feelings. As there is still an ongoing investigation it is tough to comment broadly. But the Big Guard definitely deserved much better.
Best in the World
If there was any debate or doubt, A’ja Wilson confirmed last season that she is the best player in the world. Yes, Breanna Stewart is tremendous and will continue to challenge the throne. But Wilson’s campaign was unassailable.
Awards season was basically Aces season and Wilson brought home two of her own. The former Gamecock won her second MVP and her first Defensive Player of the Year, definitively outlining her two-way dominance. During the regular season, she averaged 19.5 points (fifth), 9.4 rebounds (second), 2.1 assists, 1.9 blocks (first), and 1.4 steals (12th) per game. At long last, like Jackie Young, Wilson was unleashed to let it fly from beyond the arc. The result, chef’s kiss.
Wilson truly blocked out the sun on one end of the court while remaining the definitive best player on the offensive end. Yes, Plum averaged more points per game. Even she would bow to the M’VP and acknowledge she was able to thrive because of the gravity of her teammate and the offensive game plan. Wilson is such a brilliant player that makes everyone around them better and is a true culture setter.
Offseason Overview
Out: Dearica Hamby, Ji-Su Park, Iliana Rupert, Theresa Plaisance, Aisha Sheppard
In: Candace Parker, Alysha Clark
Re-Signed: Sydney Colson, Kiah Stokes
While this looks like a lot of names out and very few names in, that is exceptionally misleading. Hamby is an enormous loss but was almost completely out of the rotation during the title run. Again, the circumstances around her departure need to be looked into far more, but that is not for me to speculate. Sheppard, Plaisance, Park, and Rupert combined to log 85 minutes in the postseason.
Adding Candace Parker and Alysha Clark, though, took the term super team to another level entirely. Clark is easy to forget about, as she was not quite herself coming off an injury last season. However, if she can get closer to form, having her as your sixth-best player is wild. Adding her to the third-best defensive unit that was lacking a lockdown wing is unfair.
There is nothing else to say about Candace Parker that has not already been said. One of the absolute best of all time is joining the reigning champions to pursue another ring. She has shown in her two seasons in Chicago that she is willing to sacrifice individual numbers for team success. There is so much playmaking on this team already, and Parker only pushes that further. This team is going to be a joy to watch.
Prediction
It should come as no surprise if Las Vegas finds themselves back in the WNBA Finals. Becky Hammon came to this organization (and stiff-armed NBA rumors this offseason) to build the next dynasty. Adding two championship-level pieces to their existing core is a home run. While they will walk away with less hardware individually this season, they will be back in the Finals.
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