The two-time defending WNBA Champion team Las Vegas Aces are dealing with the worse. With a 6-6 record, they already have as many losses as they did in the entire 2023 season. Not only this, but the Aces have 4 losses in the last 6 games this month. All this was enough to prompt the Aces’ office to make some moves, and they came up with a name- Jessika Carter.

“The team is announcing a new signing over the weekend,” as reported by the Fox 5 Las Vegas Aces. Carter, the 23rd overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, was brought in to support Aces’ star player, who despite averaging 28 points per game, has not been getting the needed support. But, before we move on, let’s explore more about this newest signee.

Jessika Carter: a promising addition to Aces

Born and raised in Waverly Hall, Georgia, Carter’s journey from being the 49th ranked to the 23rd overall WNBA draft pick wasn’t easy. She began her basketball career at Harris County High School, where she was ranked as the 49th best player in the nation during the 2010s in the Olsen ratings. For eight years, she worked hard to nurture her skills, aiming for a professional basketball career. But, the question is: how did she land up with Aces’ then?

In 2018, her life changed completely when she selected Mississippi State Bulldogs, earning a spot on the USA’s roster for the 2019 World University Games. Displaying an impressive performance, she averaged 11.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. This marked the beginning of something significant.

Carter became one of the three players in the program’s history to accumulate over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. By the time she finished five seasons with MSU, she ranked 6th in scoring, 2nd in rebounds, and 3rd in blocks on the all-time leaderboard. Although she was picked 23rd in the WNBA draft by the Liberty, she was later waived to make space for rookies. Fortunately, she found a place with the Aces.

But why would the Aces take on Carter when their roster is already full? The answer lies in her potential and the immediate need for support around their star player. Despite her young age, Carter has proven her ability to perform under pressure and could be the key to turning the Aces’ season around.

Aces’ struggle amid roster shake-up

Carter could prove perfect to help center star A’ja Wilson. Notably, Wilson leads the WNBA with the highest 28 points average per game and 11.5 RPG. Despite these stats and potential, Wilson wasn’t getting the needed support. And all this created space for Carter. The Aces’ situation, on the other hand, acted as a cherry on top of the cake.

As of now, the Aces lead the WNBA with 86.8 PPG and stand in 7th position. Notably, these key statistics are lower than last year’s positions. And in order to overcome the deficit in their performance, they need to act fast. Hence, they made up the desired space on the roster and their choice for waiving off was Emma Cannon.

The Aces had signed Cannon through training camp after she spent parts of 2020 and 2021 seasons with them. Until now, she made three appearances during her second stint wherein she averaged only 1.8 minutes per game. Hence, the Aces signed with Jessika Carter after waiving off Cannon.

But now the question is: will Carter be able to make room for herself in the hearts of the Aces’ enthusiasts and the team with her performance?

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.