The Phoenix Mercury superstar center was wrongfully detained by Russia, and her abscence is affecting the WNBA and its players.
WNBA
Wilson’s two-year contract extension with the Aces ensures they’ll remain WNBA championship contenders, solidifying her as the foundational talent around which the franchise can build.
Former Aces center Liz Cambage expressed displeasure with the WNBA’s pay structure Tuesday, tweeting the league is one in which “a head coach can get paid 4X the highest paid players super max contract.”
The women’s sporting organization is contesting its first basketball season at what’s now called Athletes Unlimited Arena at the Sport Center of Las Vegas — playing two games three nights per week through Feb. 26.
Las Vegas Aces president Nikki Fargas and owner Mark Davis were respectfully unrelenting in their pursuit of Becky Hammon.
Becky Hammon played eight seasons with the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars, who relocated to Las Vegas in 2017 and became the Aces. She becomes the league’s highest-paid coach.
WNBA legend Becky Hammon is finalizing a five-year deal to become the Aces’ coach, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Review-Journal late Thursday.
The WNBA unveiled its schedule Thursday. The Aces will open the 2022 season on May 6 with a road game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Aces star forward A’ja Wilson was named to the All-WNBA second team Friday. She averaged 18.6 points and career highs of 9.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season.
Only five Aces players are under contract for next season, per Spotrac: Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, Jackie Young and Destiny Slocum.
Las Vegas can advance to the WNBA Finals for the second straight season with a win Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena. Here are three keys to victory against a veteran Phoenix squad.
Chelsea Gray scored a game-high 22 points for the Aces, who embarked on a 24-0 run in the third quarter to seize control in the 93-76 victory.
At the end of the first quarter, the Aces trailed by nine points in Game 1 and 17 points in Game 2. They fell behind 11-0 in Game 3.
The Aces were blown out for the second straight game, falling to the host Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals. They face a win-or-go-home Game 4 on Wednesday in Phoenix.
Point guard Chelsea Gray is the only WNBA champion on the Aces’ roster, having won the title in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks and reaching the finals again in 2017.
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