With a few weeks remaining before the playoffs, the Las Vegas Aces have landed in real trouble. Despite already securing a berth, the team is forced to play without its leading scorer. “She didn’t really have a choice. I told her she’s sitting out… It wasn’t a very big fight,” shared HC Hammon on Sunday while announcing Wilson’s absence from the game due to a recent injury. This is exactly why it seems the Aces’ third consecutive championship run could be in jeopardy—but not unless Hammon leads it that way.

On September 9th, Rebecca Lobo joined forces with ESPN analysts to discuss the Las Vegas Aces. Herein, she shared a conversation she had with head coach Becky Hammon before the game. “If this was a Game 5 in the playoffs, A’ja would be able to play. They’re taking it day by day,” she revealed.

For Hammon, Wilson is like an ace in a deck of cards, and she knows how to play it to win. With the team already in the playoffs, sitting in 4th position with a 22-13 record, Wilson’s absence mustn’t have a huge impact. “There’s never a good time for this. She does get a couple of days to get that ankle right and a little bit of rest,” added Becky in an interview.

It has been half a decade since A’ja Wilson missed a game. Since August 19, 2019, the WNBA’s scoring leader has been consistent in helping the Aces add championship wins to their name. Even this year, she’s been pushing for that. But after hurting her right ankle while facing the Connecticut Sun, Hammon decided to keep her on the bench for a couple of games.

For Aces HC, the “how” is more important than the “where.”

For the two-time WNBA champions, Wilson’s injury is a significant concern—not because of the playoffs but to ensure everyone on the roster is healthy. “She (Becky) said it’s more about ‘how we’re playing than where we are playing,’” added Lobo. Thus, Becky Hammon is ensuring the Aces’ entire roster returns healthier than ever before.

“It’s very precautionary, and we’re taking it very slow with her,” said Hammon. However, giving Wilson rest comes at a cost. For the Aces, it was an upsetting loss in the game against the New York Liberty. Despite having a tough roster, the Aces weren’t able to overcome the intense competition led by Breanna Stewart and the Liberty.

Kelsey Plum and company were left with a 71-75 loss, marking the end of their four-game winning streak with Wilson. In fact, the Aces stand at 0-3 against the Liberty, who rank No. 1 in the league. So the real challenge comes in the playoffs for the Aces if they were to cross the Liberty again. The path looks clearer until then, with 3 lower ranked teams and Connecticut Suns next on schedule. The latter, they have lead with 2-0 this season. But it remains to be seen if the streak continues if Wilson were to sit out.