The Las Vegas Aces are chasing history. Only once before has a WNBA team grabbed three straight championships in a row, and it doesn’t exist anymore. What the Houston Comets did from 1997 to 2000, can the Aces repeat in 2024? Maybe, because the experts say there is still one ingredient that the A’ja Wilson-led team is missing to make them a true powerhouse.

Krista Blunk and Carolyn Peck sat down with Nikki Fargas to discuss just how the back-to-back champions can go for another ring. While Wilson broke the single-season scoring record against the Fever yesterday, what are the Aces’ chances at a championship? “The most important thing that the Aces need to focus on is they’ve gotta get some offensive rebounds, and they’ve gotta keep their opponents off the glass,” Peck began. “If they keep their opponents off the glass, you know what that does – that allows the Aces to get down the floor and run in transition. That’s something that’s slowed down since the break.” The Sin City based franchise is quite dependent on their transitions as they rank second in the league for their fast-paced games.

After the Olympic break ended, the Las Vegas team did not immediately fall back into the rhythm of the season. They dropped three of their first five games after the return, but Wilson carried the team through an almost-fourth loss. And per Blunk, some players need to step up to support each other as well. “When you look offensively, there are some key players that have to do their job every single game, and so we’re talking about coming consistently coming out for as close to 40 minutes as you can and doing what you’re supposed to do. And that’s gonna be Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. I really believe their double digit scores – and they’ve gotta be able to bring that,” she stated.

“They have to be that threat every single game. Their numbers have been down, they need to get those up, but they’re always gonna work it through A’Ja Wilson. She’s been a consistent cog for the team, she’s gotta have some others to go with her.”

Last year, the Aces were playing in a league of their own. Winning a league-record 34 games during the regular season, which had been extended to 40 total games, “their .850 winning percentage was fifth best of all time,” per the Associated Press. Can the team pull up their socks and make history once again? A’ja Wilson is certainly confident in her teammates.

Four days after lifting the 2023 championship trophy, A’ja Wilson made a bold 2024 prediction

The Las Vegas Aces had already made history last year when they grabbed a second championship in a row. No team had done it since the Sparks did it in 2001 and 2002. High on the spectacular season they just had, A’ja Wilson said at the victory parade, “We’re going to do this … again.”

Did she sound a tad overconfident? Maybe. But if 2024 has proven anything, it’s that they can actually live up to the 28-year-old’s claims. “I’m sure a lot of people think we’re arrogant in some cases, but we’re us and we’re true to us,” she continued. “So we can’t worry about what anyone else has going on or what they bring in here. We’ve just got to worry about ourselves. Yeah, we’re going to get everybody’s best game. I think that’s what makes us great.”

Some injuries along the way have hampered the team from treading on the same path as the last year, and consistent performances have also gone down. But in this last phase of the season before Sept. 22 rolls around, can the team go into the playoffs by ending the season strong? Only time will tell.