Here’s everything wrong with the Las Vegas Aces so far this 2024/2025 season.
#5 Lack of roster depth
The Las Vegas Aces lack roster depth, and it’s affecting them. While A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young continue to put up great numbers, the bench players aren’t. Megan Gustafson, Kate Martin, Sydney Colson, and Kiersten Bell are wasting their playing time.
For example, Gustafson averages five points, 3.5 rebounds, and three assists in 13 minutes.
#4 The loss of Candace Parker
Candace Parker announced her retirement right before the start of the 2024 season, leaving a major hole in the lineup. The Aces built a decent portion of their game plan around Paker, and her loss really messed up the depth of their game.
Another person sidelined is Riquina Williams, who is suspended after an alleged domestic abuse incident.
These long-term holes in the Aces roster will continue to affect them. Whether they ever decide to lift Williams’ suspension is up to them, but the team needs to solve its problems somehow. Chelsea Grey is another woman missing from the stat sheet due to a foot injury. She hasn’t played in the first three games of the season.
#3 Lack of production from Kiah Stokes and Alysha Clark
Alysha Clark and Kiah Stokes are two of the Aces’ most pivotal players, but you wouldn’t know by their stat sheet. Clark hasn’t started one game this season and sits with an average of 8.3 points, five rebounds, one assist, 1.7 steals, and 2.7 turnovers a game in 32 minutes.
Then there’s Kiah Stokes. While the young woman was a significant factor in the playoffs last season, she is not having the same luck this year.
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#2 Getting outscored from behind the arc
It’s hard to believe that the Las Vegas Aces are getting outdone from behind the arc. The league is actually outscoring them by a percentage of 43.4 % to 33.0%. Their best shooter is Kiah Stokes, who has knocked down 80% of her shots but doesn’t go from deep very often.
Another example is A’ja Wilson, who has a 22% average and focuses on inside shots. Her drop in performance is disheartening, given that she had 31% percent from behind the arc last season.
One big reason for this lack of production might be the loss of Chelsea Grey, who led the Aces in the three-point percentage category last season. She finished the regular season with a whopping 42% from deep and energized the offense.
#1 Relying too much on their big three
Aja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum are the Las Vegas Aces’ superwomen. The team seems to be over-relying on the trio, leading to better defenses from other teams.
Las Vegas needs to expand its game plans. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young are doing their best to contribute points, but the bench isn’t doing its job. It’s like the other teams know that if they can force the ball into the hands of Alysha Clark and Kiah Stokes, they can force a mistake.
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