A’ja Wilson’s pursuit for a third WNBA championship hit a major roadblock this off-season. The Aces were unable to hold on to many of their roster members due to the cost cap in place and let’s just say that the fans aren’t pleased about how the Aces who were bound by constraints worked throughout the offseason!

Wilson isn’t happy either and who could blame her? Watching key players like Kelsey Plum, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Alysha Clark, and Sydney Colson walk away from the team is a tough pill to swallow. People still remember when the reigning WNBA MVP took to threads to express her frustrations watching Martin get picked for the Valkyries, ” Did I scream and fall to my knees in the kitchen when I heard her name get called …lol yeah ..was I sad….absolutely! “ A’ja’s raw reaction was proof of just how much these losses hurt!

And it wasn’t just Kate Martin’s transfer that stung. Tiffany Hayes, the two-time NCAA champion with UConn, who came out of retirement just to play alongside A’ja, hurt her even more! In a live event with legends Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, A’ja couldn’t hold back, revealing how Tiffany’s departure felt like rubbing salt into an already painful wound.

She said, ” When it came to Tif (sighs heavily), that one hurt me as well, that was a burn that was salt into the wounds but at the same time again I just feel like its home for them( both Martin and Tiffany are going to play for Golden State) that’s why I feel so happy” 

While A’ja is clearly heartbroken over losing her teammates, she’s showing true magnanimity in how she’s handling the situation. A’ja knows the business side of the game and she’s graciously appreciating the fact that the Golden State Warriors, led by former Aces assistant coach Natalie Nakase are a perfect fit for those players, both on the court and financially!

With only a few months remaining, A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces are still hungry to win another championship under Becky Hammon. The off-season may have been a tough one with all the departures, but the Aces are far from backing down. They’ve made some bold moves. Let’s take a look at those changes!

A’ja Wilson and the Aces undergo big changes

It began with a shake-up at the top! The Aces’ management went through a major overhaul, starting with the departure of General Manager Natalie Williams. Assistant coaches Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh left to take up head coaching roles with the Golden State and Chicago Sky.

They acquired star guard Jewell Loyd from the Kelsey Plum blockbuster trade. But that wasn’t all. They also added some serious firepower with the signing of Atlanta Dream forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, a major coup for the team. To further strengthen their squad, they brought in the talented Queen Egbo and  Tiffany Mitchell.

It remains to be seen whether the losses of key players will outweigh the impact of the new acquisitions for A’ja and the Aces. ESPN’s Michael Voepel has given their off-season moves a C+grade which isn’t something to be excited about if you are an Aces fan. That said, the Aces still have one of the best starting 5 in the league and only time will tell if they are able to make another push for the championship.