The Liberty are that much closer to a few hundred large.
Aces star A’ja Wilson, the four-time WNBA MVP and league’s leading scorer, was ruled out of Tuesday night’s Commissioner’s Cup final at Barclays Center due to a right leg injury.
Wilson was downgraded after being designated as questionable on Monday’s injury report, the day after she appeared to roll her right ankle in a win over the Sky.
Wilson re-entered that game after the injury and finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds. She is averaging 25.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks while playing in all 19 games for the Aces (14-5).
It’s a disappointment to viewers looking forward to seeing another rendition of Wilson and Breanna Stewart starring in one of the league’s best rivalries — this one with the added stakes of a $500,000 prize pool for the WNBA’s version of an in-season tournament.
Each player on the winning team receives $30,000 (admittedly less of a windfall in the WNBA’s new salary environment). Players on the losing team get $10,000, with an additional $10,000 going to the game’s MVP and a charity of the winners’ choice.
Wilson’s absence will boost the chances of the Liberty (12-8), who have lost four of their past five games. Their lone win during that stretch came last Tuesday in Las Vegas against the Aces.
Satou Sabally will miss the game for the Liberty. She remains in concussion protocol.
