Las Vegas Aces Suffer Major Loss on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jun 13, 2025 6:22 PM ET

It’s been a sluggish start to the 2025 season for the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. Through the first eight games, they are 4-4 and in sixth place in the 13-team WNBA standings.

They’ll try to get back on track and snap a two-game losing streak Friday night when they host Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. It's the second of three straight home games for the Aces.

But they’ll be without a key piece.

Three-time league MVP A’ja Wilson is in the WNBA's concussion protocol and will miss Friday's game.

ESPN reported the news Friday afternoon after Wilson left Wednesday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks. She played 28 minutes before taking a shot to the face while contesting a drive to the basket with 1:17 left in the third quarter.

Breaking; A'ja Wilson has been ruled out for Friday's game vs. the Dallas Wings due to WNBA concussion protocol. pic.twitter.com/56P23rtUZ4
— ESPN (@espn) June 13, 2025

Wilson, the former South Carolina star under head coach Dawn Staley, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She helped lead the Gamecocks to a national championship in 2017, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. She later won Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award in 2018.

Since joining the Aces, Wilson has captured two WNBA titles (2022 and 2023), was named WNBA Finals MVP in 2023, won Defensive Player of the Year twice and led the league in blocks four times.

Wilson had played in all eight Aces games so far this season, averaging 20.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. She posted a season-high 35 points on May 30 in a 96-81 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Sparks.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: