The WNBA offseason has been absolute madness with blockbuster trades, shocking signings, and a record-breaking deal that turned the league upside down. ESPN just dropped its offseason grades, and let’s just say A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces might want to skip reading what Michael Voepel and Alexa Philippou had to say!

ESPN’s Michael Voepel didn’t hold back when grading the A’ja Wilson-led Aces, giving them a surprising C+ rating. “The Aces’ chemistry has been pretty good in recent years, so we’ll see if that continues with these changes. But there’s a question about whether the Aces really made themselves better, or just different, which is why their grade is on the low side.”

It’s understandable why the Aces have been rated so lowly as they saw Kelsey Plum traded to the Sparks, fan favorite Kate Martin claimed by the Valkyries, and Alysha Clark, Tiffany Hayes, and Sydney Colson all depart as unrestricted free agents. There have been a few good additions like Jewell Loyd and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus but there’s still a lot to be done if they want to get back to competing for the championship!

Rachel Annamarie DeMita didn’t hold back when discussing the Aces’ offseason, sharing her thoughts using ESPN’s grades she said, “Until all of these stuff moved around in the free agency they(Aces) were still top 3 odds for contention, I don’t see them there I see them being at the middle of the pack at best.” 

While it’s clear the Aces have lost a significant portion of their roster, their starting five of Wilson, Young, Gray, Loyd, and Parker Tyus still looks very strong. However, their bench remains a major concern. Many of the key role players from last season have departed, and it could be argued that they haven’t been adequately replaced. On top of that, the injury concerns surrounding Parker Tyus further complicate matters. For these reasons, analysts are skeptical that the Aces, at least on paper, have the depth and stability needed to mount a serious title challenge this season.

A’ja Wilson has been open about her frustration with the roster changes, but there’s one player she probably didn’t want to lose even though she’s genuinely happy for her. Let’s take a closer look!

A’ja Wilson happy for Kelsey Plum

This offseason, A’ja Wilson had to come to terms with losing one of her closest teammates, Kelsey Plum. Plum, took to Instagram to say goodbye to the Aces and their passionate fanbase, writing, “A move from San Antonio. Bill Laimbeer. Marc Davis. Becky Hammon. Hall of Fame Teammates. Championships. All stars. Gold medals. It’s been an incredible journey to be a part of the Aces organization, and Vegas will always hold a special place in my heart.” 

A’ja Wilson couldn’t hold back her emotions as she reflected on Kelsey Plum’s time with the Aces in the interview with Callie Fin, saying, “(Plum) was our hard-nose player that did all of everything in the moment, whenever we needed her.” “In the locker room, she was always someone that spoke her mind. You need that honesty in the locker room. We’re definitely gonna miss her. But I’m also very happy that she is starting her journey in a new light that she wants. She wanted it, so I’m so glad that she’s getting what she wants, and I hope that she gets everything that she deserves.”

Losing Plum is undoubtedly a tough blow for the Aces, but Wilson’s words show the respect she has for her teammate’s decision. With the big changes to the roster and new faces joining the team, fans are left wondering, have the Aces given A’ja the support she needs to lead them back to the top and win that championship again and prove the analysts wrong? Only time will tell!