The WNBA season is a quarter of the way through, and the New York Liberty is the only undefeated team remaining. On June 13, ESPN released its report card grades for all 13 teams.
ESPN’s report card graded all 13 franchises on an A-F grading scale, and four franchises received a grade of D or lower. The Las Vegas Aces, who won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, received a D+. Behind the Aces, the Connecticut Sun (D), Chicago Sky (F), and Dallas Wings (F) received the bottom three grades.
” What in the world is happening in Las Vegas? The Aces were third in our preseason predictions, but have stumbled and look out of sorts. For the first time under coach Becky Hammon, they have lost two games by at least 20 points, against the Storm and Valkyries,” wrote Kendra Andrews.
Las Vegas Roster Changes
Last season, the Aces lost to the Liberty 3-1 in the WNBA semi-finals of the playoffs. As a result, Las Vegas blew up their championship core and traded Kelsey Plum.
Plum was traded in February in a blockbuster trade to the Los Angeles Sparks, and the Aces received Jewell Loyd from the Seattle Storm. In addition, both teams received draft picks, and the Storm acquired Li Yueru from the Sparks.
Las Vegas drafted A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Plum No.1 overall in their respective draft classes. Currently, the Aces are in sixth place with a 4-4 record. The team has struggled this season, and Loyd has seemed out of place in the team’s system.
“A’ja Wilson who left Wednesday night’s loss to the Sparks because of a head injury — is averaging 20.9 points and Chelsea Gray is adding 14.8, but Vegas is struggling to get good production from more than two players on any give night,” wrote Andrews.
“Jewell Loyd, who replaced Kelsey Plum, has been a non-factor, averaging just nine points in 28 minutes — nearly eight points fewer than her career average.”
Championship Window?
As of now, the Aces have only defeated two teams that are above .500 in the WNBA standings. Although, Las Vegas is top five in blocks (4.6) and steals (8.1), they have struggled to stop teams in late game situations. The team is also struggling with offensive consistency.
During their championship run in 2023, they where second in the league in opponents points allowed per game holding teams to 80.3 points. This season the team is ninth in the league holding teams to 83.9 points per game.
This season Hammon has went on the record multiple times questioning the toughness of her team. “Hammon didn’t mince words after the Golden State loss when she said other teams are “punking” the Aces, and that they are “soft mentally,” wrote Andrews.
“She called out the Aces’ effort on both ends of the floor, and then did so again after the loss to Los Angeles.”
WNBA New Territory
Even though Las Vegas is struggling to gel, there is a lot of basketball left to play in the 2025 WNBA season. The Aces are in unchartered territory and can change the course of the season.
To no one’s surprise, Los Angeles is struggling even with the acquisition of Plum. Both teams will need time to adjust to their new rosters. Needless to say, some analyst projected the Aces to land in the finals but the season hasn’t gone as planned.
“I actually picked the Aces to face the Liberty in the Finals, a decision I immediately regretted,” wrote Kevin Pelton.
Las Vegas host the Dallas Wings at the Michelob Ultra Arena on June 13.
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