The Las Vegas Aces come into Game 2 of their WNBA Semifinal series against the Golden State Valkyries in need of a win. Although the Aces have the comfort of Game 3 at home, potentially losing Game 3 will put them in a 2-0 hole and on the verge of elimination. And for Aces head coach Becky Hammon, there is no doubt in her mind that A’ja Wilson is going to bounce back, as per Kendra Andrews of ESPN.

“The thing I know about A’ja is she doesn’t back-to-back games where she struggles,” Hammon said.

Hammon also acknowledged that while a potential 0-2 hole is not ideal, that the team has been in worse situations over the years. The Aces are looking to defend their title from last season. They have won three of the last four WNBA championships. Their back-to-back title wins in 2022 and 2023 put them in elite category in joining only the former Houston Comets and the Los Angeles Sparks as the only teams to have repeated as champions.

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During the Aces’ Game 1 loss, A’ja Wilson finished with 24 points, four rebounds and one steal in 35 minutes of play. She shot 8-of-21 from the field, 0-of-2 from the 3-point line and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line. The leading candidate for the WNBA’s MVP award, Wilson is coming off a monster series in the opening round against the Indiana Fever.

Through four playoff games for the Aces so far, the three-time champion is averaging a playoff career-high 30.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocked shots with splits of 56.5 percent shooting from the field, 50 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 82.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.