The Las Vegas Aces look primed to complete their three-peat as the WNBA Finals approach. The New York Liberty will stand in their way as tough opponents but as Las Vegas gears up for the semifinals, they have an ace in the hole. There is the recently crowned unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson, of course. But even she believes someone else is the veteran glue of the team.

When Chelsea Gray missed the first 12 games of the 2024 season, Las Vegas had one of its worst starts since Becky Hammon joined the team in Dec 2021, going 5-5 in their first 10 games. Her leg injury sustained in the 2023 Finals was almost career-threatening. But in a recent media appearance, Wilson couldn’t help but hype her fellow teammate. “Chelsea’s the head of our snake. She keeps us organized, she’s a joy to have in the locker room.”

She also referred to Gray’s injury and how she has overcome it, “And when you see the resilience she has shown through her injury, it speaks volumes of the type of person she is to this organization and we’re gonna be behind her 100 percent. I’ve just loved her seeing beam with so much joy just to play on the court again. When injuries happen, it teaches you ‘Don’t take the game for granted’ and I think you see that a lot in Chelsea.”

When Gray was selected for the Paris Olympics roster, it didn’t sit well with a section of W fans. But while 2024 may have been a slow start, her impressive resume spoke for itself. The ‘Point Gawd’ finally looked like herself as September approached. “She’s pouring a lot out into the game and that’s what we love about her the most. But at the same time, I love to see the emotions, I love to see her be human. Because that’s the real side that people need to see,” Wilson continued.

While her regular season performance is already awe-inducing, the postseason is when the W gets to witness the true Chelsea Gray. The 2022 Finals MVP, Gray is certainly proving true Wilson’s words, “You’re overcoming your struggles and your battles and still managing to stay at the same peak and the pace you’ve been before. So it’s been fun seeing her grow, but we know this is Chelsea, this is who she is, so we understood it was just a matter of time for things to click.”

Whatever the sport, the playoffs are always a different ball game. Gray’s 11 consecutive points in the second half of the decisive Game 5 when she was with the LA Sparks in 2016 are still memorable. As A’ja Wilson said in a different interview, the 31-year-old knows how to shine under pressure.

A’ja Wilson believes Chelsea Gray is the “main ingredient to our recipe”

When Las Vegas made it to the semifinals on Sept 25, Chelsea Gray was emotional. Her injury from the last finals had been a little too scary. But the fact that not only her comeback in the regular season, but the Aces advancing to the semi-finals was worth shedding a tear or two over.

“She’s worked hard to get back to the form she’s in today,” A’ja Wilson said of her teammate. “When the game’s on the line, put the ball in Chelsea’s hands.” That game against the Seattle Storm certainly proved her worth, when Gray stepped into the game with 7:05 remaining on the clock. Assisting Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum, Gray also got two defensive rebounds and was an overall significant presence for the team.

Wilson rightly told ‘ESPN’, “She’s a main ingredient to our recipe, to our cookbook. She’s probably the salt, something that you just need a little kick to it to change the whole meal.”

As the Aces now look for another championship, all the pieces are on the board. Their point guard is back in action, they have a 3x MVP in peak form, and the team is looking better than ever. The only obstacle standing in their way now is the Liberty!