Damian Lillard reacts to Aces roster announcement

With the 2025 WNBA season scheduled to start for the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday, May 17 against the defending champion New York Liberty in New York, the Aces had to make some tough roster choices.

On Monday, the Aces made the unexpected announcement that they had waived North Carolina/Oregon product Deja Kelly.

The waive of Kelly sparked controversy around the league.

Kelly had gone undrafted in the 2025 WNBA Draft but just days later she signed a training camp contract with the Aces.

Kelly came up big the Aces final preseason game against the Phoenix Mercury scoring 15 points, playing 13 minutes off the bench. She even hit the game-clinching jumper for the Aces.

The transaction came a surprise around the basketball world, including in the NBA.

Milwaukee point guard Damian Lillard reacted to the news in his Instagram story.

“Wthelly,” Lillard wrote.

Back in the first round of the Bucks play-off series against the Indiana Pacers, Lillard suffered a torn Achillies.

Lillard averaged 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game in 2024-25, earning his ninth career All-Star selection.

As for Deja Kelly, she’s on the hunt looking to be a valuable asset for another WNBA team in the 2025 season and beyond.

“As long as I’m myself, I will be content with whatever the future holds for me, whatever that looks like,” Kelly said at the Aces’ media day earlier this offseason. “That’s something that I’ve really tried to keep at the forefront, and just being myself and knowing that it’ll all work out. That’s the best advice that they’ve given me.”