The Las Vegas Aces are on the road Sunday evening, traveling to face the Toronto Tempo in Vancouver. Sitting third in the WNBA standings with a 25-13 record, the Aces have already clinched a playoff spot. They trail the Golden State Valkyries by just one game for the No. 2 seed.
But ahead of the matchup, the Aces received concerning injury news. Superstar center A’ja Wilson has been downgraded to questionable due to a back injury. If she cannot suit up, it would mark her first missed contest since Aug. 9 and only her fourth of the season.
Wilson, 30, is putting together another MVP-caliber season. She is averaging 25.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.8% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc. She remains in the running for her fourth MVP award.
Should Wilson sit out, the Aces will likely lean on Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray to carry the offensive load. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Brianna Turner could also see increased roles in the frontcourt.
Toronto, meanwhile, is dealing with a long list of injuries. Dana Evans is questionable with a leg injury, while Janiah Barker is out for the season. Brittney Sykes, Nyara Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Maria Conde and Aneesah Morrow are all sidelined. The Tempo enter with an 11-25 record, but they are coming off an 82-79 victory over the Fire, powered by Isabelle Harrison’s 25 points. Harrison is expected to be the focal point of Toronto’s offense with so many players unavailable.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The game will be broadcast on The Spot-Vegas 34 and TSN. Wilson’s status remains the key storyline as the Aces aim to close the gap on the Valkyries.
