The Las Vegas Aces faced the daunting prospect of watching their three-peat dream slip away as the series moved to Vegas. They staged a remarkable comeback in Game 3 against the New York Liberty, however, securing a commanding 14-point victory. That victory broke the five-game losing streak against a team that has become their nemesis. However, the job isn’t finished yet; as even one loss could spell elimination. Adding to their worries, they face uncertainty about the availability of one of their starting players for today’s crucial matchup.

As Becky Hammon’s battalion prepares for Game 4 today at noon at Michelob Ultra Arena, there is a disappointing news for the Aces fans. After missing Game 3 as well, Center Kiah Stokes will not be available for the matchup on Sunday, leaving the team with a significant gap in their lineup.

Underdog WNBA, a go-to source for injury updates and lineup alerts, recently shared a concerning update about Kiah Stokes on X. The tweet read, “Kiah Stokes (concussion) ruled out for Sunday.” Stokes has been a crucial part of the team, starting in 29 of her 39 regular-season games. In the semifinal series, she logged 13 minutes in Game 1 and 8 minutes in Game 2, contributing a total of four rebounds during that time.

The 31-year-old center, who previously played for the Liberty, ranked as the Aces’ second-best rebounder, averaging 4.7 rebounds per game in the regular season. She was only behind A’ja Wilson, who led the pack with an impressive average of 11.9 rebounds. Unfortunately for the Aces, Stokes hasn’t been on the court since Game 3, a setback that stems from an incident in Game 2.

What happened to Kiah Stokes and who is her potential replacement for Las Vegas Aces?

Game 3 was a make-or-break moment for the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, as they teetered on the edge of elimination. Their concerns intensified with the absence of Kiah Stokes, adding pressure to an already tense situation. Despite their impressive victory that night, they must have held onto the hope that Stokes would recover in time for Game 4. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, and she remains sidelined.

The Aces’ defensive powerhouse, Kiah Stokes, faced a tough moment during the third quarter of Game 2 when she collided with Jonquel Jones. This incident raised concerns about a potential concussion, forcing her to exit the game early. After just eight minutes on the court, where she managed to grab three rebounds, Stokes had to be benched. Her departure hit the team hard, especially as they were already working to contain the opposing team’s potent offense.

Kiah Stokes has been a crucial part of the Aces’ defense, boasting a season-high 12 rebounds in one game. With her sidelined, Megan Gustafson emerges as a potential replacement to step up in her absence. In the last game, Gustafson played for 12 minutes, contributing one rebound and one assist. However, the Aces need to keep a close eye on their rebounding game, as the Liberty have a knack for exploiting weaknesses in that area.

As the Aces strive for a three-peat, it will be fascinating to see whether they can overcome Stokes’ absence or if the Liberty will seize the opportunity.