The Las Vegas Aces walked into Thursday night’s game against the Washington Mystics with an eight-point lead and 3:45 left on the clock. They walked out with a loss that has their fanbase calling for heads to roll.
What happened in those final minutes wasn’t just a collapse; it was a complete meltdown that perfectly captures everything wrong with the 2024-25 Aces.
How Did the Aces Blow an Eight-Point Lead in Under Four Minutes?
A viral stat from Underdog WNBA on X tells the whole story of Thursday’s disaster. With 3:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, Las Vegas held what seemed like a comfortable 66-58 lead over Washington. Fast forward to the final buzzer, and the scoreboard told a completely different story: Mystics 70, Aces 68.
3:45 left in 4th quarter:
Aces – 66
Mystics – 58Final:
Aces – 68
Mystics – 70— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) July 11, 2025
The numbers paint an even uglier picture when you look at the full game. Las Vegas had built their biggest lead of the night at 15 points during the third quarter. They entered the fourth quarter up by five points, seemingly in control. But Washington had other plans.
In the final frame, the Mystics outscored Las Vegas 20-13, completely flipping the script. What was supposed to be a comfortable win became a crushing reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional basketball. For a team that’s now dropped to 9-11 in the 2024-25 season, this collapse felt like rock bottom.
The loss came with A’ja Wilson sidelined due to a wrist injury, but that doesn’t excuse what happened in crunch time. Fans watched their team fall apart when it mattered most, and they’re not staying quiet about it.
“Wow, how the mighty have fallen,” said one user, perfectly capturing the sentiment of Aces Nation.
wow how the mighty have fallen
— Sneaker-Hardy (@SneakerHardy) July 11, 2025
Why Are Fans Turning on Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young?
The stat sheet tells one story, but the final moments tell another. Chelsea Gray finished with 13 points on 6-10 shooting, plus seven rebounds and three assists. On paper, it looked like she contributed. But what happened off the stat sheet has fans turning against the veteran guard.
With five seconds remaining and the Mystics clinging to a one-point lead, the Aces had one last shot to steal the game back. Gray had the ball in her hands with the clock ticking down. She had options: take the shot herself or dish it to a teammate for a better look.
Instead, disaster struck. Gray lost her footing and turned the ball over, handing the Mystics the win on a silver platter. For fans who watched their team dominate for three quarters, seeing it end like that was too much to handle.
“Get Chelsea Gray off my team,” said another fan, expressing the frustration building around the veteran point guard.
Get Chelsea Gray off my team.
— Frieza’s Burner (@King_Cold_Son) July 11, 2025
Meanwhile, fans question Jackie Young’s performance and her effort level. Three days earlier, on July 8, Young dropped 19 points against the New York Liberty, looking like the dynamic scorer Las Vegas needs. But Thursday was a different story entirely.
Young managed only 10 points and seemed disengaged throughout the game, drawing heat from fans who believe she wasn’t locked in when her team needed her most.
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“Jackie didn’t feel like playing today,” said another fan, summing up the disappointment with Young’s lackluster effort.
Jackie didn’t feel like playing today
— Benjamin (@Btalksports) July 11, 2025
However, not all fans blame individual players for the team’s struggles. While most were busy venting their frustration over the latest defeat, one user took a different approach. They pointed to a bigger issue: the departure of Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks.
“This team ain’t been right since Plum left,” said the user, highlighting how Plum’s absence has affected the team’s chemistry and performance.
This team ain’t been right since Plum left 😂 pic.twitter.com/sLBx8JmQ30
— Dexter Calhoun (@DexterLewisss) July 11, 2025
The Aces don’t have much time to dwell on this collapse. They must regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge, a matchup against the Golden State Valkyries on July 12 at PHX Arena. With their season hanging in the balance and fans losing patience, every game from here on out feels like a must-win.
