Las Vegas Aces: Established Dynasty! Third Title in 4 Years

Aces Crowned WNBA Champions for the Third Time in Four Years

Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury with a score of 97-86 in a dominant display, securing their third WNBA championship in four years. This triumph solidifies their position as the reigning dynasty in 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 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 28.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

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

Becky Hammon, Aces Coach

Wilson celebrated the victory with a pink tambourine at the post-match press conference, adding a touch of humor and emphasis to his answers.

“This is the symbol of the joy we feel at this moment. And I am grateful,” Wilson expressed.

A’ja Wilson, Aces Player

Hammon, who played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2014, considers the Aces to be one of the league’s greatest franchises already. The Aces’ path this season wasn’t the same as in their consecutive titles of 2022 and 2023, where they led the league. After a 53-point loss, the team achieved a 16-game winning streak to secure second place in the playoffs and overcome challenging series before dominating 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. “This one hits 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, Aces Coach

The Aces failed to come together in the first two and a half months of the season. But, the team managed to secure second place in the playoffs and overcome challenging series before dominating the Finals.

“Being here now compared to where we were… there was a lot of doubt [but not] in that locker room,” said Aces point guard Chelsea Gray. “We trusted each other. I’m very proud of how we stayed the course and trusted the process the whole time.”

Chelsea Gray, Aces Player

The Aces overcame a difficult start to the season to achieve a dominant run in the WNBA Finals. “This hits different because it was different,” said coach Becky Hammon.The Mercury entered the Finals with a lot of momentum, but the Aces snatched it away. Las Vegas achieved a close victory in Game 1, won comfortably in Game 2, and took Game 3 with a winning shot by Wilson in the last second. The Aces were never at a disadvantage in Game 4, leading by 16 points at halftime and 14 entering the final quarter, after Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected in the third quarter for arguing with the referees. With assistant coach and former WNBA player Kristi Toliver guiding them, the Mercury rallied in the final quarter and got within six points. But the Aces held firm and celebrated their third title away from home, 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 added 22 points off the bench.

“I had been written off 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, Aces Player

Only the Lynx, Storm, and Houston Comets (who disbanded after the 2008 season) have four WNBA titles. With Wilson and Young, both former No. 1 draft picks, still in their prime at 29 and 28 years old, respectively, the Aces should be contenders to join that exclusive group. That, if those players stay, which is a question every WNBA team will have to answer this offseason. Almost all players not on rookie contracts will be free agents for the 2026 season. Before free agency can begin, the league and the players’ union will need to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement and conduct expansion drafts for Portland and Toronto, two new franchises in 2026. Off-court issues for the league caused fans to boo Commissioner Cathy Engelbert when she presented the championship trophy to the Aces and the Finals MVP trophy to Wilson. When asked about the boos after the match, Gray said: “We have great players. You need to treat them like that.” Labor issues and the movement of free agency in the WNBA will unfold in the coming months. During that time, 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, Aces Player