The Las Vegas Aces’ bid for a second two-peat in five years came to an end Friday with a sweep in the semifinals against the Golden State Valkyries. This marks only the second time the Aces have been swept in the A’ja Wilson era and the first time during Becky Hammon’s tenure as head coach. The team faced significant challenges, including the absence of starting center NaLyssa Smith for the final month of the season due to a non-contact left leg injury, and playoff absences by Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans, and Stephanie Talbot.
Hammon said the team wasn’t firing on all cylinders, noting they lacked the defensive consistency needed to compete at a championship level. “If you want to win championships, you need to be a top three, top four defense, and we weren’t this year,” she said. “We had moments where we were pretty good, but we weren’t good enough to be at a championship level.” Aces star A’ja Wilson added, “It’s not our time, and I’m OK with that. I’m at peace at the great things we did do. I can’t harp on this game too much, but I’m just happy that our team was locked in this year. It’s not the outcome we want, but we’re still champions at heart.”
Despite the loss, the Aces have established themselves as a franchise among the WNBA’s elite, with three titles and four finals appearances in seven seasons. The team has put itself in the conversation with historic franchises like the Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks, and Minnesota Lynx. Either the Valkyries or Atlanta Dream will win their first WNBA title.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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