Aces Leading Scorer Placed in Concussion Protocol
The Las Vegas Aces announced that star forward A’ja Wilson will miss tonight’s game against the Dallas Wings after entering concussion protocol. The injury occurred late in the third quarter of the Aces' 97-89 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday. Wilson sustained the concussion when she was struck in the face while defending a drive to the basket by the Sparks’ Dearica Hamby. She removed herself from the game with a minute and 17 seconds left in the third quarter and did not return. Wilson is averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists per game this season.
Wilson’s absence comes at a challenging moment for the Aces, who sit at 4-4 and have yet to find consistent form this season. Las Vegas has looked out of sync at times, and history shows the team often struggles without Wilson on the floor. Her impact goes far beyond the stat sheet; she’s the emotional leader, defensive anchor, and primary scoring option. Without her, the Aces will need to find new ways to generate offense and protect the paint. While Dallas enters at just 1-10, Wilson’s absence could open up driving lanes and second-chance opportunities that the Wings have struggled to convert so far this season. Las Vegas will turn to Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray to do the heavy lifting and set the tone in Wilson’s absence, as the team looks to avoid falling below .500.
With no guaranteed timeline for return, the Aces now face the challenge of staying afloat without the most dominant player in the league. Everything the Aces do on both ends of the court revolves around A’ja Wilson, making her absence especially difficult to navigate. She’s not just their leading scorer and rebounder but also the foundation of their defense and the heart of their offense. Everything the Aces do revolves around Wilson, so with her sidelined, the team will have to rely heavily on others to step up. The pressure is on Las Vegas, which has been the most dominant team in the league over the past few years, but questions are already emerging about this season’s outlook. Wilson’s injury could either open the door for new players to rise and offer hope for the team’s resilience, or it could expose deeper struggles and raise more concerns about their ability to defend their title.
