Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson has been ruled out of Tuesday night's Commissioner's Cup final against the New York Liberty due to a right leg injury. Wilson, the WNBA's leading scorer and a four-time MVP, was initially listed as questionable after appearing to roll her right ankle during the Aces' recent win over the Chicago Sky.
Wilson re-entered that game and finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds, but her status for the championship game was downgraded. She is currently averaging 25.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, having played in all 19 of the Aces' games this season. The Aces hold a 14-5 record.
Her absence is a significant blow for the Commissioner's Cup, the WNBA's in-season tournament, which features a $500,000 prize pool. The winning team's players receive $30,000 each, with $10,000 going to the losing team's players. The game's MVP will also receive an additional $10,000, along with a donation to a charity of their choice.
The Liberty, who have lost four of their last five games, will see their chances of winning the tournament boosted by Wilson's unavailability. Their sole victory in that recent stretch came against the Aces last Tuesday in Las Vegas. The Liberty will also be without Satou Sabally, who remains in concussion protocol.
The matchup was anticipated as a showcase for star players like Wilson and Liberty's Breanna Stewart, highlighting one of the league's notable rivalries.