The Las Vegas Aces are set to tip off their preseason, but one big name will be missing from the lineup. As the team prepares to take the floor, not everyone will be suiting up for the opener.
According to head coach Becky Hammon, A’ja Wilson will sit out the opener. Speaking at practice, Hammon kept it simple. “With A’ja, we are just taking our time, making sure she gets what she needs, but she won’t play tomorrow,” she said. Wilson has been dealing with an illness that limited her training camp participation, and the decision is purely precautionary.
There is no reason to rush one of the best players in the world in a preseason setting. These games are about evaluation, not results. Matchups against international teams like the Japan National Team are typically used to test rotations, give rookies extended minutes, and evaluate players fighting for roster spots. Hammon made that clear. “I want everybody to have a good run out there. We wanna use it as an opportunity to get better,” she said…