By DOUG FEINBERG
A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces are in rarified air.
The franchise gained its third WNBA championship in 4 seasons, finishing a sweep of Phoenix within the best-of-seven Finals with a 97-86 victory on Friday night time. Solely Houston has achieved higher over a four-season span, profitable the primary 4 titles in WNBA historical past from 1997-2000.
Wilson was an enormous motive why the Aces have been champions once more after falling within the semifinals final season. She turned the primary participant to win the regular-season MVP, Defensive Participant of the 12 months and Finals MVP in the identical season. The 29-year-old ahead was the very best participant on the court docket and is already within the dialog for the best in league historical past.
“You have your Mount Rushmore, she’s alone on Everest,” Aces coach Becky Hammon mentioned. “There’s no one around.”
Whether or not Las Vegas can hold its run going relies upon loads on how negotiations for a brand new collective bargaining settlement go. A lot of the Aces, like a majority of gamers within the league, are free brokers. The group might look very completely different subsequent season if gamers determine to go elsewhere.
If Wilson, Jackie Younger, Chelsea Grey and Jewell Loyd determine to remain, the Aces might hold this run going for some time. With a fourth title, Las Vegas would match Houston, Seattle and Minnesota for probably the most in league historical past.
“Vegas is the standard. We’re here for a reason. Took a little bit to get here,” Younger mentioned. “Proud to put on a Aces uniform every night.”
This might need been probably the most troublesome of Las Vegas’ championships. The Aces had a 14-14 file in early August and have been coming off a record-breaking 53-point dwelling loss to Minnesota. That defeat might have torn the group aside, however as a substitute it grew nearer, and Las Vegas didn’t lose a sport throughout the remainder of the common season, profitable 16 straight. Together with playoffs, the Aces went 25-3 after that loss.
“This team has been through hell and back,” the Hayward native Grey mentioned. “What a run!”
The group was pushed to the brink within the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Aces wanted a late putback by Younger within the decisive Sport 3 to advance previous Seattle after which an additional time victory over Indiana in Sport 5 of the semifinals.
The Finals, which was the primary best-of-seven collection in league historical past, solely lasted 4 video games because the group improved to 10-2 below Hammon within the championship spherical. The collection was a bit extra aggressive than the four-game sweep would point out as Phoenix had an opportunity in Sport 1, lacking two late free throws. Wilson hit a game-winner with 0.3 seconds left in Sport 3.
Now the WNBA and Aces go into an offseason of uncertainty, with CBA negotiations the most important subject of dialog.
Initially Printed: October 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM PDT
