The Las Vegas Aces have overcome obstacles in every of their championship campaigns, three of the final 4 years. In the event that they need to make it 4 titles in 5 years, they will need to do it with out beginning ahead NaLyssa Smith.
Smith will miss the rest of the 2026 season after struggling a non-contact harm to her left leg Aug. 23 in opposition to Toronto, the workforce introduced Thursday. She began all 38 video games she performed in, and averaged 11.7 factors and 6.4 rebounds whereas capturing a exceptional 63.8% from the sector.
The loss is a significant blow to the defending champion Aces as a result of it removes their most effective inside scorer, second-leading rebounder and the frontcourt associate who stored opponents from loading their whole protection towards reigning MVP A’ja Wilson.
Heading into Friday’s dwelling sport in opposition to the Toronto Tempo, the third-place Aces are one-half sport behind the Golden State Valkyries and three.5 video games again of the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
For now, Las Vegas is holding off the Atlanta Dream, who’re one-half sport again in fourth place.
Fortuitously for the Aces, their remaining 5 video games are in opposition to non-playoff groups they’ve gone 7-2 in opposition to this season: Toronto, Seattle (twice), Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Although the Aces have not budged from +600 to win the WNBA title, per DraftKings, listed below are the uphill battles they will face in the event that they need to repeat this season.
A’One Strain
Smith’s slicing, offensive rebounding and ending compelled opposing frontcourts to defend two reputable inside threats. With out her, groups will discover it a lot simpler to double Wilson extra aggressively and dedicate further our bodies to protecting her off the glass.
Smith’s harm doesn’t eradicate Las Vegas from championship rivalry as a result of Wilson stays the league’s most dominant participant and the Aces nonetheless possess distinctive postseason expertise.
However throughout her championship years, Wilson has had gamers like Dearica Hamby and Kiah Stokes, who are actually in Los Angeles and Golden State, respectively, and Smith as soon as she arrived final season.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus provides scoring means and is probably the most logical candidate for expanded minutes to interchange Smith. Brianna Turner provides protection and rebounding, however has averaged just one.6 factors and a pair of.2 rebounds. Neither gives Smith’s mixture of athleticism, ending and manufacturing.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus : Season-high 18 factors on 4-5 capturing, 2-2 from 3, 8-9 from the FT line & 9 rebounds in quarter-hour off the bench pic.twitter.com/fn3TwtSwLB
— Lee Harvey (@ben__zucker06) August 21, 2026
Decline In Offensive Effectivity
Smith didn’t require performs to be referred to as for her. She scored off rolls, cuts, transition alternatives and putbacks. Changing her 11.7 factors is feasible, however changing that manufacturing at practically 64% capturing shouldn’t be.
She additionally averaged 8.3 rebounds over her ultimate 9 appearances – together with 4.0 on the offensive glass. Her presence allowed for second-chance alternatives. The onus may fall on Wilson, who might discover herself a bit extra weary with the added accountability throughout defensive possessions.
The rise in Wilson’s workload may very nicely scale back her means to leak out or provoke transition offense.
Diminished Margin For Error
Smith was able to changing into the secondary scorer when Wilson was injured or dealing with fixed double-teams, as we noticed when she produced a season-high 29 factors when Wilson was unavailable in opposition to Chicago. That insurance coverage coverage is now gone.
A larger dependence on small-ball lineups would discover Las Vegas surrounding Wilson with Jackie Younger, Chelsea Grey, Jewell Loyd and one other perimeter participant.
And sure, that configuration creates extra spacing and playmaking, but it surely additionally leaves the Aces susceptible in opposition to bigger groups on the boards and inside.
Sunday W 😤
Wilson: 27 PTS / 7 REB / 7 AST / 2 STL / 67% FGYoung: 21 PTS / 5 AST / 3 REB / 50% FG#ALLINLV pic.twitter.com/CdJfHhiWXD
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) August 24, 2026
Backside Line
Parker-Tyus will doubtless be compelled right into a state of affairs the place she’ll need to grow to be a reliable playoff contributor, whereas the guards must compensate with higher capturing and rebounding.
And regardless if president/basic supervisor Nikki Fargas and coach Becky Hammon can signal somebody, that substitute will want a crash course on Hammon’s system, that means Wilson will undoubtedly carry a fair heavier two-way burden.
The Aces stay harmful, however they’re now thinner, smaller and significantly extra depending on their core trio of Wilson, Younger and Grey.
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports activities author from Las Vegas and a Workers Author at Ballislife.com. Observe him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
