NEW YORK — Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson suffered a right wrist injury in the second quarter of Tuesday’s loss to the New York Liberty and did not return.
She sustained the injury on a drive to the basket with 4:13 to play in the second quarter as she fell hard after attempting a shot over Liberty wing Leonie Fiebich.
Wilson remained on the floor for more than a minute, and Las Vegas’ entire bench emptied and surrounded her. She was able to walk off the court under her own power and made both of her ensuing free throws. Wilson played less than two more minutes before exiting the game once again.
After the Aces’ 87-78 loss, coach Becky Hammon said that she did not have an update on Wilson, only that Wilson will get an MRI on her wrist Wednesday morning.
“Obviously she changes the whole dynamic on both ends of the floor for us,” Hammon said. “You can’t replace her. For sure not one person, two, maybe even three, four.
“Err on the side of safe with her. Big picture. Our season is bigger than just this one game. So we want to make sure she’s good to go and not put her at any risk for injuring anything or damaging anything further.”
Wilson missed three games earlier this season after sustaining a concussion. Las Vegas went 1-2 in her absence. She missed two games last season, which at the time marked Wilson’s first time sitting out regular-season games since 2019.
The reigning WNBA MVP, who is set to appear in her seventh All-Star Game next week, was not on Las Vegas’ bench as the third quarter began, but she returned to the sideline by the start of the fourth quarter with her right wrist wrapped.
Wilson entered Tuesday’s contest averaging 21.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, on 45.8 percent shooting from the field. Her two made free throws were her lone points in Tuesday’s loss.
Despite Wilson’s absence, New York was unable to pull away until the final minutes of the game. The two teams were tied at 72 with 4:14 remaining when the Liberty went on an 8-0 run to give themselves a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Las Vegas did not make a field goal in the final 5:41 of the loss and dropped to 9-10 on the season. After recording only four first-half turnovers, the Aces committed seven turnovers in the fourth quarter alone.
“I still look at this as a game we could have stole,” Hammon said. “It’s a bummer that opportunity slipped away. But if we learn from it? I’m good with it.”
Las Vegas is tied for eighth in the league standings with three games remaining before the All-Star break.
Sabrina Ionescu was one of five Liberty players to score in double-figures, finishing New York’s win with a game-high 26 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Las Vegas guard Jackie Young scored a team-high 19 points while guard Dana Evans added 16 points off the bench.
The Aces play the Washington Mystics on Thursday, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
“It’s A’ja Wilson, so not one person can just fill that void,” Young said. “Just hoping that it’s nothing too serious.”
(Photo: Michelle Farsi / Getty Images)
