On Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Aces announced that they agreed to a three-year deal with reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania and Andraya Carter, Wilson’s deal is the largest in WNBA history.
“A’ja Wilson, the WNBA’s first-ever four-time MVP, is signing a three-year, $5 million supermax contract to return to the Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @Andraya_Carter. The deal, which is the largest in WNBA history to date and fully guaranteed, was negotiated by Jade-Li English of Klutch Sports Group.”
Per ESPN, Wilson spoke about loving Vegas and wanting to win another championship.
“I love Vegas. I’m not leaving Vegas,” Wilson said Friday. “I’m looking to win another one. I’m looking to defend a championship that we have in Las Vegas. I’m looking to get better as a leader, as a player. Everything else just kind of falls in line.”
Wilson will receive the $1.4 million contract under the new collective bargaining agreement for the upcoming WNBA season, and over the next two seasons, her salary will increase as she counts towards 20 percent of the team cap.
“A’ja is truly one of one, who has led this franchise to where it is today,” Aces president and GM Nikki Fargas said in a statement. “Not only has she catapulted into the history books and surpassed almost every record in existence, but she does so with the utmost confidence, authenticity and grace. We look forward to continuing to see her thrive in an Aces uniform.”
According to Yahoo Sports, before Wilson signed on the dotted line, the Las Vegas Aces were sitting at $2.7 million in salary cap space; they are now down to $1.3 million. Last season, the four-time WNBA MVP and three-time Defensive Player of the Year averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals.
She is the first player in WNBA history to win the MVP award four times, surpassing Hall of Famers Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Lauren Jackson.
The Aces also overcame. a .500 record at the All-Star break to capture their third WNBA championship in four years, cementing themselves as another dynasty in league history.
Jackie Powell of The IX Sports reported that Chennedy Carter would be returning to the WNBA. She spent last season competing in Mexico’s women’s basketball league.
“Chennedy Carter is returning to the #WNBA and will join the Las Vegas Aces, two sources familiar with the situation confirmed to the @TheIXSports this morning. The Aces needed some bench depth.”
ESPN would later report that she signed with the Aces on a training camp contract.
When Carter played for the Chicago Sky in 2024, she averaged 17.5 points per game on 48.7% shooting from the field.
In the 2020 draft, Carter was drafted fourth by the Atlanta Dream and played two seasons with the franchise. In 2022, she played for the Los Angeles Sparks. Carter has averaged 14.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in his 84 career games in the WNBA. With the addition of Carter and Wilson, the Aces roster looks like this:
Center: A’ja Wilson, Brianna Turner
Guard: Jackie Young, Jordan Obi, Dana Evans, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd
Forward: Janiah Barker, Kierstan Bell, NaLyssa Smith, Stephanie Talbot, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus