Las Vegas Aces: 2024 Season So Far

The 2024 season has yet to be a storybook for the two-time defending champion Aces. The 16-8 Aces have faced more than their fair share of adversity.

First and foremost, the best point guard in the world, Chelsea Gray, was injured and did not play until June 19.

In her absence, the Aces won only half their games. Gray’s return has enabled Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, who were sharing point guard duties in Gray’s absence, to return to their primary roles of being the scoring machines that they are.

Remember, Plum had the record for most points in NCAA history before Caitlin Clark broke her record. And Jackie Young scored 32 points in the first game when Gray returned.

The other challenge that the Aces have had to overcome this season is the retirement of the all-world Candace Parker before the start of the season. Although Parker didn’t play during the second half and playoffs last year, she was the cherry on top that complimented the Ace’s all-star starting five.

When she played last year, she did all the little things to improve the team. Although the Aces proved they could win a chip without her, having Parker on the floor would still have been better.

One less daunting challenge for the Aces is that Wilson, Young, Plum, and Gray will all be representing Team USA at the 2024 Olympics.

Although Team USA is heavily favored (think 1992 Dream Team dominant), the added travel, practices, and games could put extra miles on their legs compared to teams with top players sitting at home and practicing.

A fifth Aces player, Megan Gustafson, will be representing Spain at The Olympics. And, a sixth Aces player, Tiffany Hayes, will be representing Azerbaijan in 3×3 basketball in Paris.

Although the Aces have struggled (by their championship standards), A’ja Wilson has been more dominant than ever.

Even though she has undoubtedly been the best player in the world the past few seasons, she has amazingly added more elements to her smooth game. She has scored more, rebounded more, and improved her ball handling.

And most importantly, her defense remains suffocating—blocking shots out of nowhere as usual. It will be criminal if she doesn’t win both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards this year.

The surprise of the 2024 season so far has been the emergence of rookie Kate Martin.

Martin, who was Caitlin Clark’s running buddy at Iowa, was drafted in the second round of the 2024 draft. Given how hard it is to make WNBA rosters, second-round picks usually end up playing in Europe or Outer Mongolia.

However, Martin quickly earned the favor of Aces Coach Becky Hammon for her court savvy and toughness and even got the nickname of Kate “Money” Martin from Coach Hammon.

Martin’s gritty play and her ‘regular’ white shoes have also won over fans. She even has an online following called The Martinis. You will even see The Martinis at games clinking their martini glasses if Martin gets a bucket (we are not sure how they got the stemware through security).

Martin never has the most amazing stat line, but she does the little things including playing tough defense to make the team better.

Tickets can be purchased on AXS. The Aces use AXS as their ticketing provider, so all firsthand and secondhand tickets are sold through AXS in the same place.

Fans will notice higher prices than last year, as the Aces sold out their season ticket allotment. So, almost every available seat is a resale.

Depending on the game, nosebleed resale tickets start at around $15 per ticket, and lower bowl seats between the baskets generally start at around $100 per seat.

The Aces also offer a party suite where fans can purchase individual tickets, starting at $200 that includes appetizers, an entree, and desert.

Try to get to Mandalay at least 30 minutes early to leave time to park in the garage. There are plenty of traffic guards to direct you, but the line gets backed up closer to game time.

Our favorite place to grab a meal and drinks prior to the Aces games is Libertine Social, which is located in the walkway between the casino and the arena.

For more information about the season, visit the Las Vegas Aces website.

PREMIER TIP: Try to leave the game a minute or two early. Michelob Ultra Arena has one primary entrance/exit, meaning there is a huge pedestrian traffic jam when leaving at the end of the game.