New FSM Preview: The 2023 Las Vegas Aces Season Preview

Photo Credit: TQ/Franchise Sports Media

New FSM Preview: The 2023 Las Vegas Aces Season Preview

The 2023 WNBA season is beginning, and the Las Vegas Aces are ready to compete for back-to-back titles.

The 2023 WNBA season is here, so it’s time for the Las Vegas Aces Season Preview

Las Vegas Aces A'ja Wilson — *Photo Credit: TQ/Franchise Sports Media*

With the 2023 WNBA season tipping off on May 19th, many familiar faces return to the league looking to knock off the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

The core of A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray are all returning, along with the crazy offseason addition of Candace Parker.

Las Vegas got themselves caught up in some off-season drama as the WNBA rescinded the Aces’ 2025 first-round draft pick for violating league rules regarding player benefits. In addition, head coach Becky Hammon got slapped with a two-game suspension without pay.

The 2023 WNBA World Champion Las Vegas Aces Season Preview

However, the Aces still have the upper hand on their competitors, the chemistry of a championship-winning team, except for Parker. The Chicago Sky witnessed firsthand just two years ago that adding Parker yields good results.

Can the Las Vegas Aces repeat as champions?

Las Vegas Aces Chelsea Grey — *Photo Credit: TQ/Franchise Sports Media*

Parker’s former longtime team, the Los Angeles Sparks, was the last to win back-to-back titles back in 2001-2002. Yet, she failed to repeat with the Sparks in 2017 and the Sky last season.

“Hopefully, the third time’s a charm with this team,” Parker said. “I think the biggest thing is to treat every season as its own. There’s a lot of time you reflect on what worked last year. And the way the league works, what worked last year isn’t going to work this year.”

Don’t forget about the other Las Vegas additions, Alysha Clark and Australian center Cayla George.

“You can tell the teams that have true off-court chemistry and those that don’t,” Clark said. “That was something that stood out from the jump. And just the confidence, now being here, you know where that comes from. It’s top-down. Becky instills confidence in her players on a daily basis.”

The Las Vegas Aces signed big-time free agents to help them repeat as champions

The WNBA season expanded to 40 games, and there are bound to be some challenges with fatigue, considering the newcomers are a group of seasoned vets. Nonetheless, this team is loaded with talented players.

The Las Vegas Aces start their season today

Las Vegas Aces Kelsey Plum — *Photo Credit: TQ/Franchise Sports Media*

Counting their success from last season, where they led the league in scoring, offensive rating, pace, and turnover percentage last season. They were also second in the league in made 3-pointers. It’s safe to say that we can expect a similar performance from them for the upcoming season.

“I think it also says a lot about Becky’s offense, her spacing, and her empowerment,” Plum said. “When players work on things, and then they come into the season, not all coaches are on board with them trying new things. Becky’s just like, ‘If you’re open, shoot it.'”

Additionally, the Aces were sixth in the league in defensive rating, and combined with their offense, they were second in net rating. They were also tied for ninth in average points allowed. Their defense was more than enough to win the championship, along with Wilson being named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the league’s MVP.

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Also contributing to their successful season last year, Plum led the league in three-pointers made and averaged 20.2 points per game, while Gray shifted into another gear in the postseason and was one of the team’s biggest threats in the playoffs.

Las Vegas Aces Jackie Young — *Photo Credit: TQ/Franchise Sports Media*

“I keep telling myself that the journey is not going to look the same,” Wilson said. “That’s a key factor mentally. If we don’t start off (13-2 as Las Vegas did in 2022), we can’t just blow up and say, ‘Oh my God, we’re not going to win it.’”

Being known for her defense, it’s reasonable to expect Clark to bolster the whole Las Vegas defense.

“She can guard one through four,” Gray said of Clark. “We can do some switching things defensively; there are some help scenarios we might not have to do. Yes, we’re going to have a base we want to go into the game with, but we’re able to put people on different matchups sometimes.”