3 takeaways: Wilson returns, wants Aces to ‘wake up’ after latest loss

Despite star A’ja Wilson being back in action, the Aces lost to the Seattle Storm 90-83 on Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena.

The reigning WNBA MVP recorded 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Aces (5-7) in her return. Jackie Young led the Aces with 22 points.

Wilson missed the previous three games in the league’s concussion protocol after being hit in the face during a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on June 11.

The Aces went 1-2 in Wilson’s absence. After the latest defeat, she was frank about what needs to change.

“It’s just on each and every last one of us, from top to bottom — especially myself — to make sure that we’re geared up and ready to play 40 minutes,” Wilson said. “I don’t know what that’s going to take. I think it’s going to take for us to continue to get our ass beat for us to wake up and it’s gonna click. And when it does, that’s when you’re gonna see Aces basketball.”

Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins had 25 and 24 points, respectively, for the Storm (8-5).

The Storm are 2-1 against the Aces this season. Their final meeting is Aug. 8 at Michelob Ultra Arena.

The Aces next host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at noon Sunday at T-Mobile Arena.

Here are three takeaways from the Aces’ fifth loss in six games:

1. Wilson feels ‘good’

The first points of the game belonged to Wilson. With a signature midrange step-back, she was officially back.

She’d already reached 15 points and eight rebounds by the end of the first half, an impressive showing as the Aces led 45-38 entering the third quarter.

Cracks started to show in the third quarter when Wilson gave up back-to-back turnovers as the Storm went on an 11-3 run to close the period. She finished with seven turnovers and struggled at the free throw line (8-for-13).

Aces coach Becky Hammon said Wilson looked a bit “rusty,” but added that it was understandable.

“I feel good, like myself,” Wilson said when asked about playing after her head injury. “I just gotta honestly start to put the ball in the hoop and stop giving it away to the other team.”

The Aces had 14 turnovers against Seattle, which was actually an improvement from the past two games.

Wilson said her biggest observation while she was away from the team was that the Aces gave away too many turnovers and struggled too often after the first half.

“I don’t know what it is, but I’m gonna get to the bottom of it for my team and I,” Wilson said. “Because we play really good first halves, but the third quarter is unacceptable on our end.”

2. Nye makes case

Despite leading by 11 points at one point in the third quarter, the Aces were outscored 29-21 by the end of the period to enter the final frame down 67-66. They only scored 17 more points in the final 10 minutes.

A visibly upset Hammon said the third quarter has become “more than an Achilles’ heel” for the Aces and suggested a change.

“Maybe I’ll just start a different five in the third quarter. We’ll see. Anything’s on the table at this point, because it’s gross,” Hammon said. “Our defense was atrocious again in the third quarter, and that was the first five — not that second unit. … I mean, it can’t get worse than that first five in the third quarter. So I’m going to discuss it with some of my coaches.”

A likely candidate for the new second-half starting rotation is rookie Aaliyah Nye, who came off the bench and matched her season high with 13 points.

“She gets minutes because she plays hard. Her effort is there every time,” Hammon said. “I can’t say the same down the line. It’s there every time.”

3. Departed players no excuse

Friday was the first game back in Las Vegas for Storm forward Alysha Clark, the former Sixth Player of the Year who left the Aces in free agency in the offseason.

She was emotional as the Aces played a tribute video in her honor before the game but was limited to two points on the night.

Before tipoff, Hammon mentioned Clark unprompted as one of the Aces’ key losses when discussing the team’s current issues.

“We have pretty much a brand new bench. That’s a lot of IQ and corporate knowledge that walked out the door with (Kelsey Plum, Clark, Tiffany Hayes and Sydney Colson),” Hammon said. “At the end of the day, this game rewards teams. It rewards people that play together and rewards the people that play the hardest.”

After the game, Wilson said the change in personnel shouldn’t be a factor anymore.

“We’ve already exhausted it. That was game two, to me,” Wilson said. “Now it’s just making the right basketball decisions and understanding (that) how teams are guarding us is different. So that excuse went out the window.”

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.