Las Vegas Aces: Dynasty Solidified! Three-time WNBA Champions with A’ja Wilson MVP

The Las Vegas Aces clinched their third WNBA championship in four years, after defeating the Phoenix Mercury with a score of 97-86. This victory solidifies the Aces as the dominant dynasty of the league. The victory was achieved in a four-game sweep, marking the first time this has happened in a WNBA Finals with a best-of-seven format.

A’ja Wilson, the Undisputed Star

The Aces star 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 figures earned her the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, with averages of 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks during the series.

“She’s alone on Everest. There’s no one around,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Wilson.

Becky Hammon, Aces coach

Wilson, in a gesture of celebration, brought a pink tambourine to the post-match press conference, adding a touch of humor and emphasizing the joy of the moment.

“This is the symbol of the joy we have right now. And I am grateful,” Wilson expressed.

A’ja Wilson, Aces player

The Road to Victory

Coach Hammon, who played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2014, highlighted that the Aces are already one of the biggest franchises in the league. Hammon also emphasized the evolution of the game and the skill level of current players. The Aces’ season was not easy. After a complicated start, with a 53-point loss, the team achieved a 16-game winning streak. This secured them the second seed in the postseason and, despite challenging series, culminated in absolute dominance 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 bit, 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.

Becky Hammon, Aces coach

Chelsea Gray, Aces guard, added:

“We had confidence in ourselves. I’m very proud of how we stayed the course and trusted the process the whole time.”

Chelsea Gray, Aces player

The Aces recovered from a difficult start to achieve a dominant performance in the Finals.

In the course of the final game, Gray and Jackie Young scored 18 points each, combining for 12 assists. On the other hand, Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans contributed 22 points from the bench.

Loyd, who won two titles with the Seattle Storm before joining the Aces, commented:

“I was given it in writing in exile. But I ended up in the promised land.”

Jewell Loyd, Aces player

The Aces, with Wilson and Young, both former No. 1 draft picks, at their best, aim to join the exclusive group of teams with four WNBA titles. For the 2026 season, almost all non-rookie contract players will be free agents. This, added to the negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement and the expansion drafts for Portland and Toronto, two new franchises, are crucial issues for the future of the league. The owner of the Aces, Mark Davis, when asked about the convention negotiations, replied:

“I think they’ll figure it out somehow. I hope so. I haven’t been consulted. […] I think that’s what we have to do, but we’ll see if it works.”

Mark Davis, owner of the AcesThe league’s off-court issues generated boos towards commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the championship trophy presentation to the Aces and the Finals MVP award to Wilson. Gray, when asked about the boos, said:

“We have great players. You need to treat them like that.”

Chelsea Gray, Aces player

While the WNBA addresses its labor issues and the free agency movement, the Aces can reflect on what they achieved this season.

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

A’ja Wilson, Aces player