The Las Vegas Aces’ quest for a fourth title in five seasons remains on track as they secured a berth in the 2026 WNBA playoffs.
As things currently stand, the reigning champions would claim the No. 3 seed in the postseason.
The book on the Aces is basically exactly as it was in 2025: How far can they go on the strength of their best player?
Las Vegas is more than just four-time MVP A’ja Wilson. Chelsea Gray continues to be an elite playmaker with 7.0 assists per game. Five-time All-Star Jackie Young is once again filling out the stat sheet (18.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists) as well.
Still, the Aces’ biggest advantage is that they have the best player in the planet, and they’re noticeably worse whenever she’s not on the court.
Wilson is leading the WNBA in points (25.9) and blocks (2.1), and she’s third in rebounding (9.7). She continues to add more dimensions to her game as well. She’s shooting at a 41.6 percent clip from beyond the arc.
Midway through the 2025 season, Las Vegas appeared to be reaching a crisis point when it sat at 14-14 into early August. The sharpness wasn’t there compared to previous years, and that was exacerbated the lack of depth behind the team’s top stars. Perhaps it was time to shake things up.
The Aces proceeded to go on a 16-game winning streak to close out the year, and Wilson was firmly at the center of the turnaround. She averaged a double-double (26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds) and shot an astonishing 59.3 percent from long range during that run.
The 6’4″ center didn’t let up in the playoffs. In the Aces’ last two wins of the Finals, she combined to score 65 points and collect 23 boards.
Las Vegas faces some serious competition in its repeat bid.
Napheesa Collier made her return to the Minnesota Lynx in July, and Olivia Miles is the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year. The Indiana Fever have made positive strides with Caitlin Clark healthy for a full season. The Golden State Valkyries are building on making the playoffs as an expansion franchise in 2025.
As long as Collier stays healthy, this could be the year the Lynx get over the hump after back-to-back playoff heartbreaks.
But you don’t feel all that confident betting against Wilson in a postseason series.
