Fans were quick to point to the WNBA’s investigation into the Las Vegas Aces after they announced the signing of Chelsea Gray in free agency. Gray will return for her sixth season with the Aces after signing a three-year, $3 million guaranteed deal with the team.
This is not the only move the Aces have made in free agency. They are reportedly finalizing a three-year, $2.2 million deal with Jewel Loyd, according to ESPN’s Kareem Copeland. Las Vegas has also signed a one-year, $1.19 million deal with Jackie Young.
Finally, they are also expected to resign A’ja Wilson to a maximum contract. In light of all the big contracts the Aces have handed out, fans have been pointing toward the WNBA’s investigation into the team.
The league is investigating the Aces for salary cap circumvention. The investigation stems from the team’s partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which paid each Aces player an additional $100,000 per year. Here are the most noteworthy reactions on X following the team’s moves in free agency.
“I got a feeling that Las Vegas Convention still paying them somehow,” one fan said.
“The real question… how are the Aces not going to go over the salary cap with this roster?” a fan asked.
“Mark Davis doesn’t have to pay under the table anymore,” another fan said.
“They going to use their same underhanded Visitor Bureau to help with pay again like last few years?” a fan wrote.
“Aces with the top 4 in Aja / Chelsea / Young and Lloyd with max deal… over 55% of the cap room… then they only are able to get below WNBA average salaries after to fill up the roster… Must be cooking the book,” another fan wrote.
Chelsea Gray is coming off an MVP season in the Unrivaled League
Chelsea Gray’s return to the Aces has drawn some criticism from fans on social media, with some questioning the length of her deal, citing concerns about her age. Gray will be 36 in the final year of her contract.
Over her last four seasons with the team, she has played 178 games, averaging 12.2 points, 6.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. While people question her age, Gray is still performing at a high level, winning MVP in Unrivaled’s second season after averaging 24.2 ppg, 6.1 apg and 5.6 rpg.
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