Without MVP, Chennedy Carter leads Aces beat Japan to open WNBA preseason action

Aces coach Becky Hammon spent most of the team’s 2025 rollercoaster WNBA title run harping on defense.

As the reigning champions opened the preseason Sunday with a 94-78 win over the Japan national team at Michelob Ultra Arena, Hammon picked up where she left off.

“The biggest thing is, obviously defensively — We didn’t come out with the appropriate mindset,” Hammon said when asked what stood out to her about the game. “

Chennedy Carter scored 18 points in her debut for the Aces. Core guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray added 17 and 16 points, respectively.

The Aces were without four-time league MVP A’ja Wilson, who was listed as out with a right arm injury.

Mai Yamamoto led Japan with 18 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from the 3-point line in the first half.

Hammon noted that Japan’s lack of size actually made the team more difficult to guard at the perimeter.

Despite the Aces leading Japan 20-9 at one point, the game was tied at 30-30 as the first quarter ended.

The Aces outscored Japan 22-15 in the second quarter, earning a 54-45 halftime lead.

The Aces figured things out defensively in the third quarter, limiting Japan to 12 points in the period.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Carter makes WNBA return

After a season away from the league, it was technically Carter’s first WNBA game since 2024.

Carter got to the rim at ease, and even provided a defensive edge in her debut. Hammon and Gray, speaking to reporters separately, both emphasized how much of an edge Carter’s speed provides.

She was a huge fan favorite to the Aces’ home crowd, drawing cheers every time she touched the ball. It was as if the fans knew Carter was bound to make something special happen.

From Carter’s vantage point, she won’t feel like she’s arrived until the Aces face another WNBA team. That’ll happen May 3 against the Dallas Wings in Austin, Texas.

“The real return is when the preseason starts against Dallas,” Carter said. “But this was a great opportunity for me to get familiar with my teammates and the coaching staff.

“Just to have fun and really be back out there after 500-plus days.”

2. Minutes earned

Hammon said pregame that her starting lineup and rotations interpreted too much; she’s simply trying things with it being so early.

But for those curious, she opened with Young, Gray, Jewell Loyd, new forward Stephanie Talbot and NaLyssa Smith at center.

Hammon’s first substitution was Kierstan Bell in for Talbot, and forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus was next off the bench. Bell had 14 points and Talbot finished with two points and six rebounds. Parker-Tyus was held scoreless as she recorded three turnovers in five minutes, and she did not receive in play time in the second half.

With two points and five rebounds and 19 minutes, new center Brianna Turner made a strong defensive impression with three blocks and two steals.

Rookie Jordan Obi didn’t enter the game until the final five minutes.

“At the end of the day, the minutes are earned,” Hammon said. “If I’m a player and I’m looking at how to get into the rotation, I’m going to be doing all those little things like playing defense, rebounding, especially when I know if I have a limited role or limited minutes – being a rock star in those minutes.

“I thought (Turner) was like, really good tonight. (Bell) was really solid for us tonight.”

3. Team health overview

Wilson was listed as out with a right arm injury, and guard Dana Evans was out with a lower leg injury that has kept her out of training camp. Hammon didn’t offer a timeline for Evans’ return but Hammon said Friday that it’s going to take “a little while” for her to return.

Hammon said pregame that there were no long-term concerns for Wilson and that her absence was precautionary. Wilson participated in a full individual warmup prior to the game, but she was photographed with tape on her index and pinky fingers.

Postgame, Hammon said she didn’t know when Wilson would play next.

“I’ll check in with her,” Hammon said. “If we were playing in a playoff series, she’d be playing. Put it that way.”

Wilson won’t be the only player to watch, as rookie Janiah Barker seemed to sustain some sort of head or neck injury as she ran into a screen.

Loyd avoided a major injury scare in the second quarter after she hit the court hard due to a trip over a fallen Team Japan player who she didn’t see as she attempted to run down the court in transition. Loyd also appeared to get stepped on as she laid down in pain.

She went to the locker room but returned at the start of the second half and finished with 13 points.