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2-pointer-by-aja-wilson

2-pointer by A'ja Wilson

Season Preview

The stage is set for the league’s 30th season! 
Following a historic 2025 season highlighted by the Golden State Valkyries’ debut, A’ja Wilson’s KIA MVP run and the Las Vegas Aces’ third WNBA title in four years, Season 30 is set to tip off on Friday, May 8, 2026.  
With the 2026 WNBA Draft (tune in to ESPN on April 13 at 7:30 pm ET!) and the debut of two additional expansion teams on the horizon, the momentum is high. Check out some of the early storylines and key dates to look out for in the action-packed 2026 WNBA Schedule.  
<hr />
<h2>Season 30 Tips Off  </h2>
The WNBA enters its landmark 30th season with WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax on Friday, May 8, with a three-game slate. The action continues through the weekend with an additional three games on Saturday, May 9 and five games on Sunday, May 10, to kick off the 44-game regular season. 
Full weekend schedule: 
Friday, May 8 (3 games) 
<ul>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7:30 pm ET: Connecticut Sun vs. New York Liberty </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7:30 pm ET: Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">10 pm ET: Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm </li>
</ul>
Saturday, May 9 (3 games) 
<ul>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">1 pm ET: Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">3:30 pm ET: Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">9 pm ET: Chicago Sky vs. Portland Fire </li>
</ul>
Sunday, May 10 (5 games) 
<ul>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">1 PM ET: Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">3 PM ET: New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7 PM ET: Las Vegas Aces vs. Los Angeles Sparks </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">7 PM ET: Atlanta Dream vs. Minnesota Lynx </li>
<li data-ccp-border-top="0px none " data-ccp-padding-top="0px" data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">8:30 PM ET: Phoenix Mercury vs. Golden State Valkyries </li>
</ul>
Season 30 is also highlighted with a rematch of the league’s inaugural game in 1997, with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty on Sunday, June 21, on the anniversary of the original matchup.
<hr />
<h2>The Home Debuts: Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo </h2>
The league is expanding to a 15-team field with the highly anticipated debut of the Toronto Tempo and the Portland Fire. Each team will make their home debut during the weekend of WNBA Tip-Off 2026 presented by CarMax. 
Toronto: Friday, May 8 at 7:30 pm ET vs. Washington Mystics 
Portland: Saturday, May 9 at 9 pm ET vs. Chicago Sky 
<hr />
<h2>Aces Begin Back-to-Back Campaign, Revenge for the Mercury </h2>
The 2025 WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces will begin their campaign for another back-to-back title (previously taking home the chip in 2022 and 2023) with their first home game on Saturday, May 9, hosting a 2025 WNBA Finals rematch against the Phoenix Mercury. The teams will face-off four times this season: 
Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury matchups: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Saturday, May 9 at 3:30 pm ET (@ Las Vegas) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Wednesday, June 17 at 10 pm ET (@ Phoenix) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Saturday, July 11 at 4 pm ET (@ Las Vegas) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Thursday, September 24 at 10 pm ET (@ Phoenix) </li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Battle of the No. 1 Picks </h2>
2023 and 2024 No. 1 overall picks Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark are the Indiana Fever’s dynamic duo. Soon, the newest top selection in the 2026 WNBA Draft will join the Dallas Wings and team up with the 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers. The rookie duos will match up three times, with the first game coming Saturday, May 9. 
Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever matchups: 
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Saturday, May 9 at 2 pm ET (@ Dallas) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Friday, August 14 at 7:30 pm ET (@ Indiana) </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Thursday, August 20 at 8 pm ET (@ Dallas) </li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h2>Commissioner&#8217;s Cup Presented by Coinbase</h2>
The sixth annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase in-season tournament will take place Monday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 17. The Dallas Wings will kick off the two-game slate on opening night hosting the inaugural cup champions, the Seattle Storm. Following cup play, the top teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference will go head-to-head in the 2026 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Championship. Who will be crowned the next Cup champion? 
<hr />
<h2 data-ccp-border-bottom="1px solid #000000" data-ccp-padding-bottom="1.3333333333333333px">AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2026 takes Chicago<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335572071&quot;:6,&quot;335572072&quot;:1,&quot;335572073&quot;:0,&quot;335572079&quot;:6,&quot;335572080&quot;:1,&quot;335572081&quot;:0,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;single&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;single&quot;}"> </h2>
The W is heading back to the Windy City! AT&amp;T WNBA All-Star 2026 will take place Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, hosted by the Chicago Sky.<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335572071&quot;:6,&quot;335572072&quot;:1,&quot;335572073&quot;:0,&quot;335572079&quot;:6,&quot;335572080&quot;:1,&quot;335572081&quot;:0,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;single&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;single&quot;}"> 
<hr />
<h2>Additional Key Dates: </h2>
Monday, September 1 – Wednesday, September 16: FIBA break 
Thursday, September 24: Last day of regular season 
Stay tuned for more updates around WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally, the 2026 WNBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel and WNBA Finals dates!

2026-regular-season-key-dates

2026 WNBA Schedule Release: Key Dates and What to Know 

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces poses next to her signature sneaker brand as she arrives to the arena before the game against the Phoenix Mercury during the WNBA Preseason Game on May 6, 2025 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The A'One Birefcase

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball before the game wearing her new A'One Everlasting PE sneakers against the Washington Mystics on June 26, 2025 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nike A'One "Indigo Girl"

A detailed view of the shoes worn by A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces during the second quarter against the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on August 27, 2025 in College Park, Georgia. 

Nike A’One “#1 Draft Pick”

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces signs autograph on Emma Cannon #32 of the Los Angeles Sparks shoes after the game on September 11, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Nike A'One "Leo Lights"

The sneakers worn by A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces during the game against the Minnesota Lynx during a WNBA game on July 25, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Nike A’One “AKA” PE

A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces poses with a sneaker prior to the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star weekend at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A'Ones at AT&T WNBA All-Star 2025

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces wears her Nike A'One signature shoes as she warms up before a game against the Atlanta Dream at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nike A’One “Supernova”

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots against the Phoenix Mercury in the third quarter of a preseason game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on May 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A'Ones in Action

the sneakers of A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces before the game against the Indiana Fever on June 22, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nike A’One “Unapologetic”

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces wearing her new A'One Nike sneakers in the first half of a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Michelob ULTRA Arena on July 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Nike A'One "Susie Carmichael" PE

Las Vegas Aces v Connecticut Sun

Jewell Loyd #24 of the Las Vegas Aces attempts a three point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the second quarter of Game One of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals at Michelob ULTRA Arena on October 03, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nike A’One “Sequence” PE - for Jewell Loyd

A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces hits a shot against Tina Charles #31 of the Connecticut Sun in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 25, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

A'Ones in the Paint

Jewell Loyd #24 high fives A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces after winning the game against the Phoenix Mercury during Game 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals on October 3, 2025 at Michelob ULTRA Arena n Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Postgame A'One Duo

Photo Gallery

<div>
		<h2>Gallery Block</h2>
	</div>

aja-wilson-wnba-kicks

WNBA Kicks: A'ja Wilson Edition

2025 Playoffs

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-199787" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png" alt="" width="2560" height="100" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-300x12.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1024x40.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-768x30.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-1536x60.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/06/2560-x-100-1-2048x80.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Editor&#8217;s Note: Read more WNBA coverage from the Athletic <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/wnba/">here</a>. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its teams.
***
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-205369" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240353739-1.jpg" alt="A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with head coach Becky Hammon after winning Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs finals" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240353739-1.jpg 5315w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240353739-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
PHOENIX — For a while, Becky Hammon grew used to being overlooked. Not recruited by the biggest college programs, undrafted by the WNBA and perpetually passed over by NBA teams looking for head coaches.
It ate at her. Hammon is hypercompetitive, the product of a household that made everything into a game. Nothing was fun unless you were keeping score.
“No one ever picks me,” Hammon said during her first season in Las Vegas.
The Aces, however, did. They moved on from head coach Bill Laimbeer, who had won three WNBA championships and picked Hammon as their future coach, the person to lead them in their next chapter.
Now, Hammon is the standard of excellence in the WNBA, the owner of the greatest coaching record in finals history (10-2) as Las Vegas collected its third title in four years in a sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6708093/2025/10/10/las-vegas-aces-wnba-championship-sweep-phoenix-mercury/" data-index="0">Friday night’s 97-86 victory</a>. She is one of four coaches in WNBA history to win three titles. The league’s newest dynasty is a product of her creation.
Hammon was a Hall of Fame player. She trained under one of the best coaches in NBA history, serving as an assistant under Gregg Popovich for seven seasons and having a front-row seat to the rapid evolution of the modern game. Her basketball bona fides and her understanding of the X’s and O’s are unimpeachable. Hammon knows how to push the right buttons on the court with her team.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
“This one hits different because it is different.” 🥹
— Becky Hammon after the <a href="https://twitter.com/LVAces?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LVAces</a> championship-clinching Game 4 performance.
 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBAFinals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBAFinals</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTubeTV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YouTubeTV</a> <a href="https://t.co/dJv4I6RI5U">pic.twitter.com/dJv4I6RI5U</a>
&mdash; WNBA (@WNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1976882547650068953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
She coached a masterclass series against the Mercury. Turning to a zone defense in the second half of Game 1 suffocated Phoenix’s offense, denying Alyssa Thomas the middle of the floor and turning the tide of the game. The defensive adjustments on the Mercury’s middle pick-and-roll, with the guards digging in on Thomas’ dribble, continued to fluster Phoenix throughout.
In the third game, already armed with a 2-0 lead, Hammon went for the jugular. The Aces had poor starts in both of their wins, so she made a preemptive adjustment with a box-and-one on Kahleah Copper. It had the dual outcomes of helping her team lock in at the beginning of the game to implement a new defense and further confuse the Mercury’s offense.
“We ran into a team that has been through it together. We ran into a team that had the ultimate belief and trust that they could get it done as a unit with a great coach that has been through this,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said.
Despite winning with a sweep, this is arguably not even the best finals series Hammon has coached, considering she won a clinching game on the road in 2023 without two starters, designing a new scheme on the fly and trusting that her team would respond.
However, it was the intangibles Hammon brought to Las Vegas that allowed a team that was knocking on the door — a finals loss in 2020 and semifinals defeats in 2019 and 2021 — to push through into immortality.
The Aces love Hammon for her creativity and the specific ways she works with each player.
“She does a really good job of just finding ways to connect with each player, finding different ways for us to stay focused,” Aces guard Jewell Loyd said. “But also, it’s never boring, whether it’s an animal analogy and just finding ways to connect, whether it’s music, art or storytelling.”
Hammon’s father was a storyteller. She said he once told her and her siblings the plot of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” on a family road trip, but changed the names of the characters to the names of his children. He always wanted to make sure there was a lesson in every tale. Hammon has commissioned the Las Vegas content team to produce videos that tell a story for her players; none resonated more than a midseason feature titled “The Champions Who Lost Their Way.” on many occasions, Hammon went back to that video for motivation.
Hammon gave each player a plant with a special message on it at the start of the season. For Kierstan Bell, who had just lost her father, the message was to “keep choosing joy.” Most of the players didn’t have green thumbs and weren’t accustomed to caring for plants, especially with their itinerant lifestyles. But they honed in on a new challenge — Loyd, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray all bragged to Hammon on the championship podium that their plants are still alive — and ran with the metaphor all season of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6679057/2025/10/01/las-vegas-aces-wnba-finals-return/" data-index="7">being planted, not buried.</a>
When Las Vegas was struggling earlier in the season, she had the players watch the movie Thunderbirds, a film about the U.S. Air Force squadron. The goal was for the players to see blind trust in action, a feeling they were missing on the court. It was an ethos Hammon tried to reinforce with an egg-walking activity where players were blindfolded on a mat with their teammates and had to navigate to the other side backwards without crushing any eggs.
There are many other Hammon-isms in her inspirational toolkit: animal analogies, the acronyms and more. One of her pet words of choice is “grace” — each Aces player has to run her race and be given grace. The path may not have been what they expected at the beginning of the season, but it was their specific journey.
“It’s not just her basketball mind, it’s because she can form relationships and bonds,” finals MVP A’ja Wilson said. “That’s when you see winning cultures is when your leader is so poured into you. You want to win and play for her, so we’re grateful. Obviously, (Hammon) keeps bringing championships to Vegas, and we’re just happy to be on the ride.”
In the modern era of the WNBA, Las Vegas is the standard, the team the rest of the league continues to chase. Hammon may have come from humble beginnings, but there is nothing ordinary or overlooked about her story now.
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/sabreena-merchant/" aria-label="Sabreena Merchant's Author Page">Sabreena Merchant</a> is a women&#8217;s basketball Staff Writer for The Athletic. She previously covered the WNBA and NBA for SB Nation. Sabreena is an alum of Duke University, where she wrote for the independent student newspaper, The Chronicle. She is based in Los Angeles. Follow Sabreena on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/sabreenajm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Follow Sabreena on Twitter">@sabreenajm</a>

becky-hammon-architect-wnba-dynasty

How Las Vegas Aces Coach Becky Hammon Became Architect of a WNBA Dynasty

Led by a record-shattering performance from 2025 WNBA League and Finals MVP A&#8217;ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury (4-0) in the inaugural best-of-seven Finals series in the 2025 WNBA Finals Presented by YouTube TV. The Aces concluded an unprecedented season with a historic Finals run, capturing their third WNBA championship in four years 
Check out some of the records and accolades the Aces collected through their 2025 Finals campaign.
<hr />
Game 2
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jackie Young tallied the most-ever points in an individual quarter of a WNBA Finals game (21 PTS in Q3)
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Previously: Angel McCoughtry &#8211; 19 PTS in 3Q of 2011 Finals Game 1</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson &amp; Jackie Young (60) combined for the second-most points by duo in Finals history
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">1. Jewell Loyd (28) &amp; Breanna Stewart (37) Game 1 of 2020 Finals (65 combined)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">2. A&#8217;ja Wilson (28) &amp; Jackie Young (32)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-205338" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239057636-2.jpg" alt="A'ja Wilson #22 high fives Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces during the game against the Phoenix Mercury during Game 2 of the 2025 WNBA Finals" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239057636-2.jpg 4428w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239057636-2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239057636-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<hr />
Game 3
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson (50) passed Napheesa Collier (48) for the most combined steals and blocks in a single playoff run
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">1. A&#8217;ja Wilson &#8211; 55 BLK &amp; STL (12 games in 2025)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">2. Napheesa Collier &#8211; 48 BLK &amp; STL (12 games in 2024)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">3. Tamika Catchings &#8211; 47 BLK &amp; STL (10 games in 2009)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A’ja Wilson set the WNBA record for most total points in a single playoff run
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Top 5 all-time playoff scoring totals:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A’ja Wilson: 287 PTS (11 games, 2025)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Napheesa Collier: 285 PTS (12 games, 2024)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Diana Taurasi: 245 PTS (11 games, 2009)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Brittney Griner: 240 PTS (11 games, 2021)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Maya Moore: 234 PTS (10 games, 2015)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson’s game-winning shot was just the fourth game-winning basket in the final second of the 4th quarter (since 2006) or second half (before 2006) of a Finals game, joining:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Alana Beard: Game 1 of 2016 WNBA Finals (0:00 4Q, LAS 78 MIN 76)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Maya Moore: Game 3 of 2015 WNBA Finals (0:00 4Q, MIN 80 IND 77)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Sabrina Ionescu: Game 3 of 2024 WNBA Finals (0:01 4Q, NYL 80 MIN 77)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-205339" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240122350.jpg" alt="A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the game-winning basket during Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury" width="960" height="720" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240122350.jpg 3600w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240122350-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240122350-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2240122350-1536x1152.jpg 1536w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
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Game 4
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">The Las Vegas Aces finished 145-52 across regular season and playoffs dating back to the beginning of the 2022 season, the best in the league over that span:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Las Vegas Aces: 145-52 (.736)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">New York Liberty: 123-64 (.658)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Minnesota Lynx: 108-73 (.597)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">The Las Vegas Aces (2022, 2023, 2025) are the second franchise to win three championships in a 4-season span, joining the Houston Comets (1997-2000).
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">They are the 7th WNBA team to have at least 3 WNBA Finals Championships to their name, joining:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Minnesota Lynx (4)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Houston Comets (4)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Seattle Storm (4)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Los Angeles Sparks (3)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Phoenix Mercury (3)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Detroit Shock (3)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">The Las Vegas Aces finished the season 25-3 over their last 28 games, becoming just the 4th WNBA champion to do so and the first since 2014, joining some of the greatest teams in league history:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">1998 Houston Comets</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">2001 Los Angeles Sparks</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">2014 Phoenix Mercury</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">2025 Las Vegas Aces</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Becky Hammon (2022, 2023, 2025) becomes the fourth coach in league history to have three or more WNBA Championships, joining:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Van Chancellor: 4x (1997-2000)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Cheryl Reeve: 4x (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Bill Laimbeer: 3x (2003, 2006, 2008)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Among the six coaches with at least 10 Finals games coached, Becky Hammon has the highest win %:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Becky Hammon: 10-2 (.833)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Brian Agler: 8-5 (.615)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Cheryl Reeve: 17-13 (.567)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Bill Laimbeer: 10-9 (.526)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Sandy Brondello: 8-8 (.500)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Mike Thibault: 5-10 (.333)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jewell Loyd becomes a champion for the third time (2018, 2020, 2025) and is the only player in WNBA history to record a 10-0 record in Finals games.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Top 5 by winning % (min. 10 GP):
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jewell Loyd: 10-0 (1.000)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Sue Bird: 11-1 (.917)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Alysha Clark: 9-1 (.900)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Monica Wright: 7-3 (.700)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Penny Taylor: 9-4 (.682)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-205346" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239851880.jpg" alt="The Las Vegas Aces players holds up the 2025 WNBA Championship trophy after winning against the Phoenix Mercury during Game 4 of the 2025 WNBA Finals" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239851880.jpg 5388w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239851880-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson (114 PTS) tallied the most points in a single Finals series across WNBA history, passing Cappie Pondexter&#8217;s record set in 2007.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson &#8211; 114 across four games in 2025</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Cappie Pondexter &#8211; 110 PTS across five games in 2007 w/ PHX</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson (120) recorded the most rebounds in a single postseason across WNBA history, passing Jonquel Jones:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A&#8217;ja Wilson: 120 in 2025</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Jonquel Jones: 116 in 2023</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Alyssa Thomas: 114 in 2022</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A’ja Wilson (28.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1 SPG) becomes the only player in WNBA Finals history to average 25+ points and 10+ rebounds across a WNBA Finals series.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A’ja Wilson becomes the sixth player to win multiple WNBA Finals MVPs, joining:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Cynthia Cooper – 4x (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Lisa Leslie – 2x (2001, 2002)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Diana Taurasi – 2x (2009, 2014)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Sylvia Fowles – 2x (2015, 2017)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">Breanna Stewart – 2x (2018, 2020)</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400"> She joins Stewart as the only player to do so before turning 30.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A’ja Wilson is the first player in WNBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">A’ja Wilson tallied her third MVP and third WNBA Championship since 2022, joining Bill Russell as the only players across NBA / WNBA history to total 3 of each across a 4-season span. Russell did this 3x in his career:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400">1959-60–1962-63</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">1960-61–1963-64</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400">1961-62–1964-65</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-205347" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239862404.jpg" alt="A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces poses for a portrait with the 2025 WNBA Finals MVP Award trophy after winning the 2025 WNBA Championship " width="960" height="640" />

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History: The Las Vegas Aces' 2025 Finals Accolades

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Top 10 Plays of the Week

In an elimination game in the Semi-Finals against the Indiana Fever, something shifted for the Las Vegas Aces. It wasn’t just an A’ja Wilson lock-in that helped the Aces get over the hump that was the ridiculously resilient Fever, but contributions from her “supporting cast” that got Las Vegas to yet another championship series &#8211; their fifth appearance since the calendar turned to 2020.
Supporting cast is also a highly disrespectful way to describe the talent of Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, two veterans who have now experienced three championships in four years with one another, and with Wilson. The duo lifted the Aces past the Fever in overtime in that series, both combining for 49 points, 16 assists, four steals, and six rebounds in the win. 
Those three, as talented as they are, were also led and supported by one of the greatest coaches in WNBA history in Becky Hammon. She’s a huge part of why the Aces can never, ever, be counted out. Along the way this year, as Wilson said in her postgame press conference following the team’s series win, Hammon’s leadership was key to keeping this team afloat through a tumultuous 2025. 
<div id="attachment_205320" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-205320" class="wp-image-205320" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854533.jpg" alt="Head Coach Becky Hammon, A'ja Wilson #22, Chelsea Gray #12 and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces speak to the media following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Finals" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854533.jpg 8241w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854533-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Head Coach Becky Hammon, A&#8217;ja Wilson #22, Chelsea Gray #12 and Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces speak to the media following Game Four of the 2025 WNBA Finals</div>
“Becky has done tremendous things for this franchise. And, it’s not just her basketball mind. It’s the way she can form relationships and bonds with people, and I think that’s what you see in winning cultures. Your leader is so important to you. You want to win and play for her. So, we’re grateful, obviously. You keep bringing championships to Vegas. We’re just happy to be on the ride with you,” said Wilson. 
In addition to Wilson and Hammon’s elite leadership throughout this year, Gray, who is going to go down as one of the best point guards in WNBA history, finished up her immaculate postseason by moving up to 7th place all-time on the Finals scoring list with 298 points. She also moved into 3rd place all-time in steals in the Finals with 34, 8th all-time for total playoff games played with 65, and 3rd all time in Aces franchise history postseason scoring with 616 points. 
Young, to boot, tied Sue Bird during the postseason with the most postseason games with at least five assists in the first quarter of a contest with four. 
This big three, which at one was part of an Aces team headed into the All-Star break heralding a  14-14 record and an abysmal chance at even making the postseason, let alone winning the Finals, seemed to become a different team. They won 16 straight games after experiencing a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx back in August, motivated to not let the year end on such a low note.
<div id="attachment_205321" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-205321" class="wp-image-205321" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239851807.jpg" alt="A'ja Wilson #22, Jackie Young #0, and Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces pose for a photo with the 2025 WNBA Championship trophy" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239851807.jpg 5580w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239851807-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />A&#8217;ja Wilson #22, Jackie Young #0, and Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces pose for a photo with the 2025 WNBA Championship trophy</div>
When asked what made this championship a bit sweeter for all involved, Gray said the journey &#8211; with its .500 twists and streaky turns &#8211; has led to this Finals victory becoming one for the books for Las Vegas. 
“To be here right now, and where we were in May and June, there was a lot of doubt in that locker room. But, we had confidence in each other. I’m just really proud of how we stayed the course and trusted the process the entire time.”
That confidence, oozed mainly by Wilson en route to her fourth Most Valuable Player victory and another Defensive Player of the Year honor, changed the landscape of the postseason entirely. Las Vegas, previously sleepwalking through the season, had suddenly emerged as a powerhouse to fear once again. They climbed over the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty in the stands, snagging the 2nd seed after nearly landing on the outside looking in.
In addition to Wilson, Gray, and Young completely re-shaping the outcome of the Aces season, smaller moves that underwhelmed some ended up becoming paramount to their resurgence. Signing Dana Evans, a championship-experienced veteran guard, and NaLyssa Smith, a proper backup forward to Wilson, ended up helping Las Vegas solve one of their biggest issues headed into the 2025 season &#8211; the lack of a cohesive bench unit.  
Evans finished up the postseason averaging 8.4 points per game and 2.9 assists per game on 53.3 percent shooting from three point range and 46.8 percent shooting from the field overall. Smith, on the way to winning her first championship in her fourth season in the WNBA, averaged 7.1 points per game, five rebounds, and one block in 23 minutes per game. 
Adding another former champion in Jewell Loyd to that bench &#8211; acquired in a blockbuster trade to kick off the season &#8211; was simply unfair. She managed to spark the Aces’ offense in key moments along their playoff run, hitting threes at a clip of 41.3 percent on 5.3 attempts per game. Someone of Loyd&#8217;s talent getting moved to the bench could’ve been a misfire &#8211; instead, it brought her back to life on the court. 
<div id="attachment_205322" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-205322" class="wp-image-205322" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854759.jpg" alt="Dana Evans #11 of the Las Vegas Aces holds up the 2025 WNBA Championship trophy" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854759.jpg 7407w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854759-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/10/GettyImages-2239854759-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />Dana Evans #11 of the Las Vegas Aces holds up the 2025 WNBA Championship trophy</div>
This Finals series was set to be a far more competitive one. A sweep was seemingly out of the question between a 2 seed and a 4 seed. You would’ve been hard pressed to find a prediction regarding this series that didn’t include the phrases “it’ll be hard fought,” or “this is going to seven games.”
The Phoenix Mercury, with their own hardware and history, looked primed to get their first championship trophy since 2014. Health was on their side to begin this series &#8211; but, it was also on the side of the Aces. In a postseason of attrition, we were seeing the two teams that managed to stay relatively healthy in the Finals. 
While we did get to see some competitive bouts between these two squads in this series &#8211; Game 3 ending on a game-winning shot from Wilson, and Game 1 being decided by just three points &#8211; you knew that this was the Aces series to lose. 
Their big three came out as the most consistent against Phoenix’s own star trio in Alyssa Thomas, Kahleah Copper, and Satou Sabally. Sabally, who unfortunately went down in Game 3 with a scary concussion, couldn’t get back in time for Game 4 and Phoenix’s last push to try and prevent a sweep. 
Las Vegas, as they have in their last three championships, came out as the most cohesive, chemistry-filled, and motivated team between the two vying to hoist the championship trophy at halfcourt. Their dynasty is officially set in stone. And, you can just tell they’re not done dominating with this core just yet.

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A Dynasty Defined: Inside Las Vegas’ 2025 Championship Run

AP Recap

PHOENIX (AP) — A’ja Wilson put in work in the paint, getting bucket after bucket despite multiple defenders draped all over her.
She got plenty of help from Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans. The trio started raining 3s early in the second quarter.
The Las Vegas Aces — once again — were an offensive force in the WNBA Finals, and they were well on their way to their third championship in four seasons. They finished off a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 victory on Friday night.
“These guys are elite,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said.
Wilson had 31 points and nine rebounds while Gray and Jackie Young each scored 18 points. Five players scored in double figures.
The Aces made quick work of the league’s first best-of-seven Finals. They scored 54 points in the first half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.
Wilson came to the postgame press conference wearing giant ski goggles from a Champagne celebration in the locker room and carrying a pink tambourine, shaking it after answers she liked.
“This is a symbol of the joyfulness we have right now,” Wilson said, grinning. “I’m just so grateful to be with this bunch — and that’s not the alcohol talking.”
Wilson came to the postgame press conference wearing giant ski goggles from a Champagne celebration in the locker room and carrying a pink tambourine, shaking it after answers she liked.
“This is a symbol of the joyfulness we have right now,” Wilson said, grinning. “I’m just so grateful to be with this bunch — and that’s not the alcohol talking.”
Wilson — honored as the Finals MVP — led the way for the Aces despite a poor shooting night. The four-time regular-season MVP finished 7 of 21 from the field, but made 17 of 19 free throws. Gray made four 3-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter to help turn back a final rally by the Mercury.
The Aces led 76-62 going into the fourth quarter, but the Mercury went on an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to 76-70 with 7:56 left. That was as close as they would get.
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Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points, shooting 12 of 22 from the field. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts <a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/article/mercury-coach-nate-tibbetts-ejected-wnba-finals-555e8d47402d52fd1818b122d40bb2ee" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA">was ejected in the third quarter</a> after receiving two quick technical fouls from official Gina Cross. Tibbetts was arguing a foul call against Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani, and reacted in disbelief as he was escorted off the court.
DeWanna Bonner and Copper also got called for technical fouls in the fourth quarter.
The Aces never trailed in the series clincher, building a 30-21 lead by the end of the first quarter on 55% shooting. Loyd, Gray and Evans made three straight 3s early in the second quarter to put Las Vegas ahead by 19.
Las Vegas settled for a 54-38 halftime advantage. Wilson had 14 points before the break while Gray added 10.
Tibbetts said the Aces were a tough team to guard all series.
“Unbelievable team — they were just playing at an extremely high level,” Tibbetts said. “We put ourselves in position to have a chance in a couple games, but what a run they’ve been on. Hitting big shots after big shots.”
The Mercury were without forward Satou Sabally, who suffered a concussion near the end of Game 3. They suffered another injury blow on Friday when Thomas had to leave just before halftime after taking a hard hit to her right shoulder on a screen from Loyd.
Thomas returned for the second half but was hampered by the injury.
The Mercury enjoyed a deep playoff run under Tibbetts, but couldn’t find a way to slow down the Aces. Phoenix made it to the finals after beating the defending champion New York Liberty in the opening round and knocking off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.
Phoenix lost in the WNBA Finals for the second time in five years, also falling to the Chicago Sky in 2021. The Mercury have won three championships, with the last coming in 2014.
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Game Recap: Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury (Finals, Game 4)

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A'ja Wilson with 31 Points vs. Phoenix Mercury

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Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces - Game Highlights

Latest

A'ja Wilson

Career Highlights
<ul>
<li>2025, 2023 &amp; 2022 WNBA Champion</li>
<li>2025, 2024, 2022 &amp; 2020 WNBA M’VP</li>
<li>2025 &amp; 2023 WNBA Finals M’VP</li>
<li>2025 WNBA Co-Defensive Player of the Year</li>
<li>2023 &amp; 2022 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year</li>
<li>2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 &amp; 2020 All-WNBA First Team</li>
<li>2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019 &amp; 2018 WNBA All-Star</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://aces.wnba.com/aja-wilson-bio/">Click here for more on A’ja Wilson, including season-by-season, international, college and personal notes.</a>

MVP season with Aces in 2025

Drops 31 in Game 4

Hits game-winner in Game 3

Postseason dominance continues

Paces Las Vegas in Game 1

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