Last Updated on August 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Las Vegas Aces 2021 were led by A’ja Wilson, whose all-around production anchored the team as its primary scorer, rebounder, and defensive force. Liz Cambage added a dominant interior scoring presence, while Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young provided playmaking and backcourt stability. The Aces combined strong rebounding with efficient offense and balanced scoring, relying on an experienced core to create advantages on both ends of the floor.
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A’ja Wilson | Starter/Star [1.1] | 31.9 | High [1.2] | 18.3 | 9.3 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 86.8 | Franchise anchor who remained the focal point on both ends despite a deeper roster around her. Opposing defenses routinely built game plans around slowing her interior scoring, while her rim protection and mobility continued to define Las Vegas’ defensive identity. (WNBA) | All-WNBA Second Team (2021), All-Defensive First Team (2021), All-Star selection (2021) |
| Kelsey Plum | Key Contributor [1.05] | 25.6 | High [1.2] | 14.8 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 55.7 | Dynamic sixth woman who completely reshaped the Aces’ second unit with aggressive downhill scoring and instant offense. League coverage frequently highlighted her successful return from injury and her ability to change games without starting, culminating in the league’s top reserve honor. (WNBA) | Sixth Woman of the Year (2021), All-Star selection (2021) |
| Liz Cambage | Starter/Star [1.1] | 23.8 | High [1.2] | 14.2 | 8.2 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 68.1 | Dominant low-post scorer who forced constant double teams and remained one of the league’s most imposing interior matchups. Her return after opting out restored Las Vegas’ inside-out attack, giving the offense another elite focal point. (WNBA) | All-Star selection (2021) |
| Jackie Young | Starter/Star [1.1] | 31.8 | Medium [1.1] | 12.2 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 1.4 | 50.6 | Versatile guard who quietly evolved into a dependable two-way starter by attacking the paint, defending multiple positions, and making quicker decisions with the ball. Coaches increasingly trusted her to handle varied assignments throughout the season. | — |
| Dearica Hamby | Key Contributor [1.05] | 24.5 | Medium [1.1] | 11.6 | 6.7 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 49.1 | High-energy forward who thrived as the first frontcourt player off the bench, consistently swinging momentum with offensive rebounds, transition finishes, and defensive versatility. Her impact extended well beyond traditional box-score production. | All-Star selection (2021) |
| Chelsea Gray | Starter/Star [1.1] | 28.9 | Medium [1.1] | 11.1 | 2.9 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 51.9 | Primary playmaker who immediately organized one of the league’s most talented offenses after arriving in free agency. Her half-court orchestration, clutch shot-making, and elite passing earned widespread praise throughout the season. | All-Star selection (2021) |
| Riquna Williams | Starter/Star [1.1] | 26.0 | Medium [1.1] | 10.5 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 38.3 | Floor-spacing shooting guard who gave Las Vegas another perimeter scoring option, stretching defenses with confident three-point shooting and providing valuable secondary scoring next to the team’s stars. | — |
| Kiah Stokes | Key Contributor [1.05] | 20.5 | Low [1.0] | 1.5 | 6.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 20.4 | Defensive-minded center whose value came through screening, rebounding, and protecting the paint rather than scoring. Her willingness to embrace a low-usage role helped balance a roster loaded with offensive talent. | — |
| Joyner Holmes | Bench [1.0] | 5.8 | Low [1.0] | 3.3 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 10.2 | Limited appearances showed flashes of athleticism and frontcourt versatility, but opportunities were scarce on one of the league’s deepest rosters. Contemporary coverage of her role was limited. | — |
| JiSu Park | Bench [1.0] | 8.9 | Low [1.0] | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 10.6 | Developmental reserve who continued adjusting to the league while supplying size in short stretches. Independent reporting on her season was limited, with most discussion focusing on roster depth rather than nightly contributions. | — |
| Emma Cannon | Bench [1.0] | 5.7 | Low [1.0] | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 8.6 | Physical reserve forward who filled emergency frontcourt minutes and competed on the glass when called upon. Contemporary independent coverage of her season was limited. | — |
| Destiny Slocum | Bench [1.0] | 6.3 | Low [1.0] | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 5.2 | Rookie guard who spent most of the year in a developmental role behind an experienced backcourt. Independent season-specific reporting on her contributions was limited. | — |
| Bria Holmes | Bench [1.0] | 3.0 | Low [1.0] | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | Appeared briefly as backcourt depth, leaving too small a sample for meaningful contemporary evaluation. Independent reporting on her season was limited. | — |
| Angel McCoughtry | Bench [1.0] | 0.0 | Low [1.0] | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | Injuries limited her to a single appearance after entering the season with expectations of providing veteran wing scoring. Coverage centered on her health rather than on-court production. | — |
| Las Vegas Aces Totals | — | 271.2 | — | 103.5 | 46.2 | 25.5 | 13.4 | — | Combined regular-season production from all listed players. | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A’ja Wilson | Starter/Star [1.1] | 32.2 | High [1.2] | 14.2 | 9.2 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 75.5 | Everything still revolved around Wilson in the postseason. Phoenix devoted extra defensive attention to her, yet she remained the Aces’ interior hub, protecting the rim while creating offense from the block and high post whenever Las Vegas needed a stabilizing possession. (ESPN Australia) | All-WNBA Second Team (2021), All-Defensive First Team (2021) |
| Chelsea Gray | Starter/Star [1.1] | 28.4 | High [1.2] | 15.4 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 68.9 | Primary floor general who repeatedly controlled the tempo of the series with patient pick-and-roll play and clutch shot-making. Analysts consistently pointed to her playmaking as the engine that kept Las Vegas competitive even when Phoenix disrupted other scoring options. (ESPN Australia) | — |
| Kelsey Plum | Key Contributor [1.05] | 28.8 | High [1.2] | 19.6 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 65.5 | Instant-offense guard whose scoring aggression became essential throughout the series. She attacked early in possessions, stretched the defense with deep shooting, and was one of the few Aces consistently capable of generating offense against Phoenix’s perimeter pressure. (ESPN Australia) | Sixth Woman of the Year (2021), All-Star selection (2021) |
| Riquna Williams | Starter/Star [1.1] | 27.4 | Medium [1.1] | 14.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 45.1 | Floor-spacing scorer who punished defensive collapses with timely perimeter shooting. Her shot-making gave Las Vegas needed offensive bursts, particularly when the Mercury crowded Wilson inside. | — |
| Liz Cambage | Starter/Star [1.1] | 20.0 | Medium [1.1] | 10.4 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 45.0 | Physical post presence who battled through a reduced offensive role as Phoenix emphasized limiting touches in the paint. Even without dominant scoring numbers, her size continued to influence matchups and defensive coverages. (WNBA) | All-Star selection (2021) |
| Jackie Young | Starter/Star [1.1] | 26.0 | Medium [1.1] | 5.6 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 29.9 | Defensive-minded guard who accepted difficult perimeter assignments while contributing as a secondary ball-handler. Her offensive numbers dipped, but coaches continued to trust her versatility and physical defense in high-leverage minutes. | — |
| Dearica Hamby | Key Contributor [1.05] | 17.4 | Low [1.0] | 3.8 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 21.4 | Energetic reserve whose impact came more from hustle than scoring. She attacked the glass, defended multiple frontcourt spots, and provided needed energy despite a difficult offensive series. | All-Star selection (2021) |
| Kiah Stokes | Key Contributor [1.05] | 14.2 | Low [1.0] | 1.0 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 11.8 | Defensive specialist who filled a low-usage role through screening, rebounding, and interior positioning. Her contributions were mostly the type that didn’t show up in scoring totals but helped stabilize lineups. | — |
| Emma Cannon | Bench [1.0] | 5.7 | Low [1.0] | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 8.6 | Reserve forward who provided physical minutes when called upon. Contemporary independent coverage of her postseason role was limited because of her small sample of playing time. | — |
| Destiny Slocum | Bench [1.0] | 4.3 | Low [1.0] | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.4 | Rookie guard who appeared briefly as backcourt depth. Independent postseason reporting on her contributions was limited due to her minimal role. | — |
| JiSu Park | Bench [1.0] | 4.0 | Low [1.0] | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | Developmental reserve center who saw only spot minutes during the playoffs. Contemporary independent coverage of her postseason contributions was limited. | — |
| Las Vegas Aces Totals | — | 208.4 | — | 86.7 | 33.3 | 24.3 | 10.9 | — | Combined playoff production from all listed players. | — |