Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson sustained a right wrist injury during on Tuesday night's game against the New York Liberty. The injury occurred after a fall in the second quarter, which led to a timeout. Wilson underwent an MRI, and the results are still pending. According to CBS Sports, she confirmed the procedure on Wednesday morning, saying, "Welp! Nothing wakes you up like the sound of an MRI machine lol! But just wanna say thank you for all prayers! We are gonna be alright!"
The Las Vegas Aces, defending champions in 2022 and 2023, are currently below .500 with a 9-10 record. A'ja Wilson's injury comes at a critical point in the season, with the team sitting in ninth place and just outside of playoff contention. After the game, head coach Becky Hammon did not provide an update on Wilson’s condition. Wilson returned to the bench in the second half with her wrist wrapped and supported her teammates from the sidelines, as detailed by AP News.
A'ja Wilson, who previously missed three games this season due to a concussion, may face another setback depending on the results of her MRI. Wilson currently leads her team in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks, and ranks in the top five in the league in each of those categories. Teammate Jackie Young commented on Wilson’s potential absence, telling CBS Sports, "Whenever a person goes out we all try to step up. I mean, it's A'ja Wilson, not one person can just fill that role. She's the heart and soul of this team, so we all have her back."
The Las Vegas Aces are preparing for their upcoming game against the Washington Mystics on Thursday. Their schedule before the All-Star break also includes games against the Golden State Valkyries and the Dallas Wings. Head coach Becky Hammon emphasized the importance of the overall season and said, "We want to make sure she’s good to go," referring to A'ja Wilson, as per AP News. Despite challenges, the Aces aim to stay competitive without Wilson, who was recently selected by Caitlin Clark to join her team for the All-Star Game on July 19 in Indianapolis.
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