The Las Vegas Aces, led by the unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson, have had their share of issues this season—especially when it comes to defense. If we look at those close games, they could’ve won but fumbled because of missed communication. These are the games they were comfortably winning the last two years. Even in their last game, they let the New York Liberty score 87 points while managing just 77 themselves. Well, it doesn’t look good for a team chasing a historic three-peat, is it?

Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon didn’t hold back after the Aces struggled to keep up with the Liberty’s pace. “They run their offense hard, and when you run fast, that means the defense has to make decisions fast,” she pointed out. “You have to talk fast, you have to move fast. The pace and the rate that they go at just makes you make mistakes. I don’t think our pace has been great all year.”

And that might just be the Aces’ biggest weakness. The coach further emphasized the need for better communication. She believes Jackie Young can’t be expected to read everything behind her. And if the team isn’t talking, how can Jackie, or be it anyone, see what’s coming their way? “The communication really has to be on point,” Hammon added. “It has to be early, it has to be really loud.” But apparently, that’s where the 2x defending champions have been stumbling.

At the same time, Liberty’s offense has been outstanding. And it’s not just about speed. The last game saw Breanna Stewart drop 34 points, her fourth consecutive game scoring 25+ points against the Aces. Liberty also had 22 assists compared to the Aces’ 14. A’ja Wilson & Co., meanwhile, have been troubled by turnovers and miscommunication all season. They average 14.2 turnovers per game, and against the Liberty, this number tends to increase. 

Who’s Got the Edge?

The Aces have been the league’s darlings for the last couple of years. However, if they can’t fix their communication issues, as revealed by their coach in the postgame press conference, the Liberty might dethrone them. Undoubtedly, both teams have had impressive seasons. For the Aces, it was about their star power. As always, the 2024 WNBA MVP, A’ja Wilson, has dominated, averaging 22.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the playoffs so far.

However, the LV Aces have allowed their opponents to shoot 44.5% from the field. And against a team like the Liberty, that’s dangerous. On the flip side, the Liberty seem to have all the momentum. Their offensive setup, led by Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, has averaged 91.7 points per game. Ionescu in particular, has been a nightmare for defenses this year, averaging 17.3 points and 5.4 assists per game. However, they somehow lack consistency in execution during high-pressure moments.

Back in the 2023 Finals, the Aces managed to pull off a victory with a solid defense and team chemistry. But now, as we approach the end of the 2024 season, things look unpredictable. Can A’ja Wilson and the Aces fix their issues? Well, they’ve certainly got the talent.