Las Vegas Aces: Dynasty Solidified! 3rd WNBA Title in 4 Years

The Las Vegas Aces were crowned WNBA champions for the third time in four years! In a dominant display, the team defeated the Phoenix Mercury with a score of 97-86, securing their place as the reigning dynasty in the league. The victory on Friday night completed a four-game sweep in the final series, the first in WNBA history to be played in a best-of-seven format.

A’ja Wilson, Undisputed MVP

The Aces superstar and four-time league MVP, A’ja Wilson, led the way in the fourth game, accumulating 31 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. These numbers earned her the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, after averaging 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks during the series.

She is alone on Everest. There is no one around.

Becky Hammon, coach of the Aces

Wilson, with a touch of humor, celebrated the victory with a pink tambourine at the press conference, symbolizing the team’s joy. Coach Becky Hammon, who played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2014, highlighted that the Aces are already one of the league’s greatest franchises.

The skill level of these players, 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, Aces coach

The Aces’ season was full of challenges. After a difficult start, the team achieved a 16-game winning streak that led them to secure second place in the playoffs and, ultimately, a dominant performance in the Finals.

I love being their coach. I love being their friend. Sometimes I push them until they don’t like it a little, but I am invested in their greatness.

Becky Hammon, Aces coach

Aces’ point guard, Chelsea Gray, also expressed her pride in the team’s resilience and their mutual trust.

The Aces celebrate the victory in the WNBA Finals

The team recovered from a complicated start to dominate the Finals. The Phoenix Mercury, who reached the Finals with great momentum, couldn’t stop the Aces. The Las Vegas team took a close victory in the first game, then won comfortably in the second and secured the third game with a winning shot by Wilson in the final seconds. The fourth game, marked by the ejection of Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts, was dominated by the Aces, who led by as much as 16 points at halftime. Despite the Mercury’s reaction in the final quarter, the Aces kept their cool and celebrated their third title, this time on the road, after winning in Connecticut in 2022 and in New York in 2023. Gray and Jackie Young each scored 18 points and combined for 12 assists, while Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans contributed 22 points off the bench. With Wilson and Young, both former No. 1 draft picks, still in their prime, the Aces have the potential to join the select group of teams with four WNBA titles. However, the future of the league and the Aces is at stake. The negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement and the expansion drafts for Portland and Toronto, two new franchises in 2026, will be crucial. The league’s off-field issues caused fans to boo Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the championship trophy presentation and the Finals MVP award to Wilson. Gray commented that the players should be treated with respect. Meanwhile, the Aces will reflect on the achievements of this season.

Good things happen to the right people. And that’s what you see in [our] locker room today.

A’ja Wilson