The Las Vegas Aces captured their 3rd WNBA title in a 4 year span Friday night, defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to complete a four game sweep.
As has been the case over the last several years, superstar forward A’ja Wilson led the way for the Aces pouring in 31 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. As a result, she took home Finals MVP honours after averaging 28.5pts/11.8reb per game in the championship series.
Her coaches and teammates lauded Wilson’s effort in the post game ceremonies, with coach Becky Hammon telling reporters “You have your Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest…There’s no one around.”
The 29 year old has perhaps one of the most impressive basketball resumes of any current player male or female following her team’s dynasty cementing victory:
| Career highlights | |
|---|---|
| 4× WNBA champion (2022, 2023, 2025) 2× WNBA Finals MVP (2023, 2025) 4× WNBA MVP (2020, 2022, 2024, 2025) 3× WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2022, 2023, 2025) 7× WNBA All-Star (2018, 2019, 2021–2025) 5× All-WNBA First Team (2020, 2022–2025) All-WNBA Second Team (2021) 4× WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2022–2025) WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2020) 2× WNBA Peak Performer (2024, 2025) 2× WNBA scoring champion (2024, 2025) 5× WNBA blocks leader (2020, 2022–2025) Commissioner’s Cup champion (2022) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2018) WNBA Rookie of the Year (2018) 2× Best WNBA Player ESPY Award (2023, 2024) Best Female Athlete ESPY Award (2024) NCAA champion (2017) NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2017) AP Player of the Year (2018) Honda Sports Award (2018) Naismith College Player of the Year (2018) John R. Wooden Award (2018) Wade Trophy (2018) USBWA National Player of the Year (2018) Lisa Leslie Award (2018) 3× All-American – USBWA, WBCA Coaches’ (2016–2018) 3× First-team All-American – AP (2016–2018) Third-team All-American – AP (2015) SEC Female Athlete of the Year (2018) 3× SEC Player of the Year (2016–2018) 2× SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2016, 2018) 2× SEC Tournament MVP (2017, 2018) 4× First-team All-SEC (2015–2018) 3× SEC All-Defensive Team (2016–2018) SEC All-Freshman Team (2015) SEC Freshman of the Year (2015) No. 22 retired by South Carolina Gamecocks Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2014) MaxPreps National Player of the Year (2014) McDonald’s All-American (2014) 3× USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year(2015, 2022, 2024) FIBA Women’s Olympics MVP (2024) FIBA Women’s World Cup MVP (2022) FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP (2015) FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship MVP (2014) |
Indeed the Aces were a runaway freight train throughout the 2nd half of the season and the playoffs. Though things weren’t always so rosy in the Nevada desert. The team sat at .500 on August 2nd, coming off one of the most lopsided losses in WNBA history after taking a 53-point shellacking which had several members of the media ready to pour dirt on the Aces in 2025.
However, a subsequent 16 game winning streak shot Vegas back up the standings into 2nd place and the team rode the momentum from there.
“To be right here right now [compared] to where we were … there was a lot of doubt [but not] in that locker room,” said guard Chelsea Gray. “We had confidence in each other. I’m just really proud of how we just stayed the course and trusted the process the entire time.”
Las Vegas now sits 1 title shy of tying the WNBA record for most championships by a single franchise. Currently Minnesota, Seattle, and the now defunct Houston franchises hold the record with 4 titles apiece.
With the 2025 season now officially concluded, attention will shift to the ongoing CBA labour negotiations which have become a hot button topic in basketball circles of late. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has drawn the ire of fans and players alike, with WNBA union rep Napheesa Collier taking aim at the league’s figure head in a prepared speech following her team’s elimination from the postseason.
Virtually every player not currently on a rookie deal is set to become a free agent ahead of the negotiations, which could drastically alter the landscape of the league. While that would make for a whirlwind free agency period, it may also be delayed if the players and the league’s leadership group can’t get on the same page in relatively short order.
A lockout is very much on the table as the players appear to be more than willing to sit out games to receive what they deem is a fair deal.
So while Las Vegas begins planning their parade, the real drama could just be getting started off the court.
Photo: John Mac. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.