WNBA general managers heap praise on Aces stars

It is a fact that the Las Vegas Aces are entering the 2025 WNBA season as one of the favorites to win their third championship in four years.

A large part of that has to do with the core the Aces have built since arriving in 2018. Great players such as A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young have found their groove with the Aces, cementing them as a potential dynasty in the WNBA. While the 2025 season does come with a few wrinkles, particularly with replacing Kelsey Plum with Jewell Loyd, the Aces are still expected to be one of the teams competing to be the last one standing.

If the general managers of the WNBA are to be believed, the Aces certainly have the firepower to do it.

Wilson and Gray are considered the WNBA’s best in multiple key areas.

According to the WNBA’s 2025 general manager survey, Wilson and Gray are held in high regard amongst the league’s front offices.

Wilson tied with Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier for best leader and forward in the WNBA, with both achieving 42 percent of the vote. Wilson was also named the player most likely to force opposing head coaches to adjust their gameplans, best center and best interior forward. Her quest for a record fourth MVP title would be foiled in their eyes, however, as she finished second to Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.

“It would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” said Wilson at the Aces Media Day about her chances on winning the historic fourth MVP award. “Every year, I try and be better than I was last year just to give myself a chance in this league because we’re getting better, we’re growing. So at this point, you just want to maintain your stamina, you want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard.”

Speaking of Clark, Gray tied the sophomore sensation as the first player WNBA general managers would select to build their team around. Gray also earned recognition for being the league’s best passer, possessing the highest basketball IQ and being the player most likely to become the best head coach. She was also voted as the player general managers would trust the most to shoot a game-winning shot (Wilson tied for second with Collier and New York Liberty forward Sabrina Ionescu).

“Obviously, you want to win as many championships while you can, doing it with the people that you love playing with,” said Gray at the Media Day about her legacy. “I think there’s also impact that you can make around the league, but also with the people that just come and watch. You want to be the teammate that people want to play with, and to be impactful by making others better.”

Wilson and Gray will be instrumental in the Aces’ quest for another title, and the league’s top executives clearly agree with that assessment.