The Las Vegas Aces (14-5) will be without A’ja Wilson when they face the New York Liberty (12-8) in Tuesday night’s Commissioner’s Cup Championship.
Aces, Liberty both got bad injury news ahead of the Commissioner’s Cup
A’ja Wilson (right leg injury) and Satou Sabally (concussion protocol) will both miss Tuesday’s night Commissioner’s Cup Championship between the Aces and the Liberty.
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Wilson rolled her right ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 107-99 Aces win over the Chicago Sky, briefly leaving the game but ultimately returning to the floor. Her status was in question for Tuesday’s championship game against the Liberty, and she was officially ruled out on
The Liberty, meanwhile, will be without Satou Sabally, who is in concussion protocol. Sabally took an elbow to the face in last Tuesday’s game against the Aces. Sabally has averaged 10.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in her first season in New York.
The Liberty will be led by Breanna Stewart, who is averaging 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season, and Jonquel Jones, who is averaging 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds.
Pauline Astier (10.1 points, 3.8 assists), Marine Johannes (9.7 points, 3 assists), Leonie Fiebich (9.8 points, 1.1 steals), and Sabrina Ionescu (9.5 points, 3.4 assists) have all been key contributors as well, and will have to step up in Sabally’s absence. Ionescu is still re-adjusting after missing the first part of the season with a myriad of injuries.
A’ja Wilson is a major absence for the Las Vegas Aces
Wilson has been one of the best players in the league throughout the first few months of the season, averaging 25.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2 blocks and 1.6 steals through 19 games. This will be her first absence of the season (and just her 7th regular-season absence of her career).
In Wilson’s absence, the Aces’ other key players will have to step up: Jackie Young (16.5 points, 6.8 assists), Chennedy Carter (14.1 points), Chelsea Gray (12.3 points, 7.4 assists), and NaLyssa Smith (11 points, 6.3 rebounds) have all been key contributors so far this season.
Forwards Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Stephanie Talbot are both likely to see an increased role after Wilson’s sidelining.
The Liberty and Aces have faced off once this season - last Tuesday - with New York emerging with an 87-76 victory.
Liberty-Aces will tip off at 7 pm ET at Barclays Center.
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