Las Vegas Aces retain their star player with new contract!
Las Vegas Aces retain their star player with new contract!
Three days since the eligibility to signing players to their roster, the WNBA off-season is officially started and it is exciting. Former 2020 MVP A’ja Wilson, a RFA forward, has resigned with the Aces.
Per ESPN, the deal is stated to be worth $398,422 for two-years. A two-year deal that is reportedly fully protected by the team; what a deal as this is a great deal for both sides.
Wilson has been a great player, a young player that has been great is very amazing for a team. It is quite inspirational. This young superstar won ROY back in 2018, took her team to the WNBA Finals in 2020, plus won the WNBA MVP in that same year.
Her stats are off the charts and as a former first-overall that is amazing. So for a two-year deal for that kind of money is a great add and it is something we should keep an eye on as a star like this is always going to earn deals like that.
Aces seem happy, Wilson seems happy as now it is time to win a championship.
Despite the Indiana Fever going to the postseason for the first time since 2016, the higher ups have felt a change was needed after two seasons of letting Christie Sides running the ship.
Sides started the season 1-8, then led Caitlin Clark’s team to a 20-20 season. It allowed them a postseason spot, but got swept in the first round by the Connecticut Sun.
Indiana released an official statement on the “parting ways” with the 47-year-old.
“We are incredibly thankful to Coach Sides for embracing the challenge of leading us through an integral transition period over the last two seasons, while also positioning us well for future growth,” Krauskopf said in the statement. “While decisions like these are never easy, it is also imperative that we remain bold and assertive in the pursuit of our goals, which includes maximizing our talent and bringing another WNBA championship back to Indiana.”
Even though the team released a public statement, Sides decided to post a cryptic social media post.
Sides is the sixth head coach to be fired by a WNBA team this offseason.
According to the Atlanta Dream, they have fired head coach Tanisha Wright after three seasons of working together.
This announcement comes after being swept in the first round of this year’s postseason against the New York Liberty.
General manager Dan Padover said in an official statement that they were grateful for her work in their rebuild.
“Tanisha was an important contributor in our efforts to rebuild the Dream, and we want to thank her for her hard work and dedication to the Dream over the last three seasons and wish her the best in the future,” general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. “At this time, we believe a change is needed to lead our players and organization to the next chapter in our efforts to be a top team in the WNBA.”
While having an overall record of 48-68, Wright led Atlanta to back-to-back postseason runs. This season, she had a double-digit win season, with 15-25.
She had three double-digit win seasons, which is phenomenal considering that Atlanta hasn’t seen those feats since 2018.
Since 2021, the Dream has had four head coaches. Nicki Collen (2017-2021), Mike Petersen (2021 – interim), Darius Taylor (2021 – interim), and Wright (2021-2024).
The WNBA has announced the winner of this year’s Most Improved Player, and it is no other than the Connecticut Sun’s DiJonai Carrington.
The 26-year-old had an incredible season that saw her dramatically improve from last season, which helped her team propel into the postseason.
In 2023, she averaged 8.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. In 2024, she averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Her offensive and defensive game was statistically better, which is why the majority of the votes went her way to win this award.
Out of the 67 votes, Carrington secured 28 from a national media panel. Los Angeles Sparks Dearica Hamby came in second with 18, and Minnesota’s Bridget Carleton came in third with 15.
The Sun finished the season with a 28-12 record, and they are now in the first round of the postseason against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever.