The Las Vegas Aces were crowned WNBA champions for the third time in four years! In a dominant display, they defeated the Phoenix Mercury with a score of 97-86 on Friday night, solidifying their position as the reigning dynasty of the league. The Aces completed a four-game sweep against the Mercury in the WNBA Finals, the first in league history in a best-of-seven format.
A’ja Wilson, the Shining Star
A’ja Wilson, the Aces superstar and four-time league MVP, led the way in Game 4, accumulating 31 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks, earning her the Finals MVP award. In the Finals, she averaged an impressive 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks.Wilson, with a touch of joy, brought a pink tambourine to the post-match press conference, using it to emphasize his answers.“She’s like Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “There’s nobody around.”
Becky Hammon
Hammon, who played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2014, considers the Aces to be one of the greatest franchises in the league already.“This is the symbol of the joy we have at this moment,” Wilson expressed. “And I am grateful.”
A’ja Wilson
“I think the evolution of the game… these players are bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled”, Hammon pointed out. “The [past] dynasties laid the foundation and showed how to win and really gave a lot to the WNBA in terms of history. The skill set and the level these girls are at [now], for me, is not comparable… it’s a natural evolution. That’s the sign of any great league; it doesn’t stay the same”.
Becky Hammon
A Path with Obstacles
The Aces’ path was not easy. After a 53-point defeat, they were at a critical point in the season. However, a 16-game winning streak at the end of the regular season secured them the second place in the playoffs. They overcame challenging series in the first round and semifinals before dominating the Finals, solidifying their elite status.During the first two and a half months of the season, the Aces failed to come together. They lost their first game by 14 points and hovered around .500 until July, even having a losing record until July 25th.“I love being their coach, I love being their friend. Sometimes I push them a little, but I’m invested in their greatness,” said Hammon, who took over as Aces coach in 2022 and has a 10-2 record in the WNBA Finals. “This title feels different because it was different. There was probably a lot more adversity than any of us anticipated. We are all human, and we are humans who wanted to do well, and do well together.”
Becky Hammon
“Being here now [compared] to where we were… there was a lot of doubt [but not] in that locker room,” Aces guard Chelsea Gray said. “We believed in ourselves. I’m so proud of how we stayed the course and trusted the process the whole time.”
Chelsea Gray
With Wilson and Young, both former No. 1s, still in their prime, the Aces could join that exclusive group. WNBA free agency and the league’s labor issues will unfold in the coming months. The Aces owner, Mark Davis, commented on the ongoing CBA negotiations.“I was a bit forgotten in exile,” said Loyd, who won two titles with the Seattle Storm before arriving at the Aces via a trade. “But I ended up in the promised land.”
Jewell Loyd
Off-court issues in the league led to boos for commissioner Cathy Engelbert when she presented the championship trophy to the Aces and the Finals MVP trophy to Wilson. “We have great players. You need to treat them like that,” Gray said.“The last time I talked about things like this, I got fined, so I guess it’s better if I don’t say anything,” Davis said. “I think they’ll figure it out somehow. I hope so. I haven’t been consulted… I don’t think there are two sides to this if you see it as unity and trying to improve the future. I think that’s what we have to do, but we’ll see if it works.”
Mark Davis
Meanwhile, the Aces can reflect on everything they experienced and achieved this season.
“Good things happen to the right people,” Wilson said. “And that’s what you see in [our] locker room today.”
A’ja Wilson
