Becky Hammon Joins ESPN as NBA Analyst; Won 2022 WNBA Title with Aces
Nov 3, 2022
UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 15: Head Coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces looks on before Game 3 of the 2022 WNBA Finals against the Connecticut Sun on September 15, 2022 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon is joining ESPN as an NBA analyst for the 2022-23 season, the company announced Thursday.
"I am very excited to contribute to ESPN's coverage of the NBA this season," Hammon said in a statement. "It will be a lot of fun working alongside ESPN's talented roster of broadcasters and having the opportunity to talk about the game that I love so much."
Hammon is coming off perhaps the best debut season for a WNBA coach in history, leading the Aces to the Commissioner's Cup and the WNBA championship while winning Coach of the Year honors.
"Becky is a pioneer in every sense of the word and we know she'll lend unique insights, based on her wide-ranging experience, to our NBA coverage," said David Roberts, ESPN's head of NBA and studio production.
ESPN says Hammon is expected to contribute to Get Up, First Take, SportsCenter and NBA Today, among other programs.
Before joining the Aces, Hammon made six WNBA All-Star teams and was named to the league's 25th Anniversary team. She went on to serve as a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach under Gregg Popovich from 2014 to 2022.
Aces Win 1st WNBA Championship in LV History After Beating Sun; Chelsea Gray Wins MVP
Sep 18, 2022
UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 18: Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket during Game 5 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on September 18, 2022 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Aces have won their first WNBA championship in franchise history, defeating the Connecticut Sun 78-71 in Sunday's Game 4 to close out the best-of-five series 3-1 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Aces used a balanced effort to secure the first professional sports title for the city of Las Vegas. Chelsea Gray led the team with 20 points and was named WNBA Finals MVP. She averaged 18.3 points and 6.0 assists during the series.
Chelsea Gray wins 2022 WNBA Finals MVP ๐ @HighlightHER
Riquna Williams added 17 points off the bench, connecting on five of nine three-pointers. Kelsey Plum chipped in 15 points while Jackie Young had 13.
Reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson struggled with her shot, scoring 11 points on 4-of-13 from the field. But she played all 40 minutes and added 14 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
After a disappointing loss in Game 3, the Aces opened the game with a ton of energy and quickly took a 10-point lead in the first quarter. But the Sun would not go down quietly on their home floor, cutting into the deficit before the period ended.
Connecticut briefly took the lead in the third quarter, but it was short-lived. Courtney Williams, who finished with a team-high 17 points, did her best to keep the Sun in the game, but it wasn't easy to keep up with Vegas' balanced attack.
The Aces began to pull away in the fourth quarter before the Sun stormed back and took the lead on a jumper by Courtney Williams. But Riquna Williams scored the next eight points for Las Vegas to put the game away.
Some sort of poetic justice given the fact that we've talked about how (relatively) depleted the Aces' bench has been all season and Riquna Williams is about to secure them a championship
Becky Hammon once again with the clutch ATOs. The Aces are able to find Riquna Williams who had the hot hand. 17 points off the bench for Williams. #WNBAFinals
Riquna Williams with a season-high 17 points (5 of 9 from 3) for @LVaces is playing her biggest in what looks like the most important game in her career.
Jonquel Jones added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Sun. DeWanna Bonner added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
Sunday's win wraps up a banner season for the Aces. The team finished as the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs with a 26-10 regular-season record and a win in the Commissioner's Cup. WNBA legend Becky Hammon now has her first championship ring, becoming the only head coach in league history to win a WNBA title in her first season.
In the end, it was a storybook conclusion to the 2022 season for the Las Vegas Aces.
WNBA Finals: Which Mindset Will Lead to a Game 2 Victory?
Sep 13, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 11: Jonquel Jones #35 of the Connecticut Sun and Aja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces look on during Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on September 11, 2022 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGASโBecky Hammon's mind was reeling. The Las Vegas Aces coach sat at the podium frustrated following WNBA Finals Game 1 against the Connecticut Sun. Her team had struggled offensively. They were stagnant, they shot poorly and they had gotten outworked on the glass.
Adjustments needed to be made, and quickly.
"Tonight we struggled a little bit, and we'll be better in Game 2," she said. "I already know what we're going to do."
Contrary to Hammonโs tone, the Aces didnโt lose. They defeated the Sun 67-64, but she knew that their opponent had imposed its style upon the game. Connecticut outrebounded Las Vegas and earned more second-chance points, highlighting its advantage in the hustle statistics.
Though they came away with the victory, why were the Aces getting outhustled for rebounds in the Finals on their home floor? Was it because of the Sun's size and their three All-Star post players? According to Hammon, that had nothing to do with it.
"When the shot goes up, you go find a body and you put yours on it, and then go grab the ball," she said. "You have to have a mindset that I'm going to go get the ball. I'm going to block you out. ... I'm going to go get the ball, that's it. You don't have to be the biggest and baddest. Be smart. Play with your feet. Be intentional about what you're doing and then at the end of the day, it's all of us."
In the other locker room, the Sun came out of Game 1 disappointed but encouraged. Connecticut held Las Vegas, a team that averaged a league-leading 90.4 points per game during the regular season, under 70 points.
While the Sun mustered just 11 fourth-quarter points, 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones doesn't believe her team has reason to be concerned. Imposing their low-scoring, gritty style of play is exactly how the Sun advanced past the Chicago Sky in the semifinals.
"I don't think it ever felt tight," Jones said following the loss. "We were shooting shots, and they weren't going in. But ultimately, we were playing great defense as well, and that's one of the things I talked about, finding the wins within the game. Yes, we weren't hitting the shots we know we can hit, but we were also playing good D. Ultimately, we'll be all right."
Will the Sun prove Jones right? Can the Aces address their stagnant, inefficient offense? In Game 2 on Tuesday, both teams will look to counter the punches of their opponent.
For Las Vegas, everything starts with getting its high-flying offense back on track. The Aces opened Game 1 by hitting five straight shots, but it was it was a slog from there. They put up just nine points in the second quarter on the way to four-point halftime deficit and ended the afternoon at 39.7 percent from the field, including just 5-of-24 on three-pointers.
Kelsey Plum, who went 1-of-9 from the field with six points and two assists, was far from the only player who struggled against Connecticut's defense, but her stat line was representative of the challenge Las Vegas faced. Like Hammon, Plum was frustrated and hardly satisfied with the win, feeling like her team barely walked away with the victory.
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 11: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces plays defense during Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on September 11, 2022 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)
"They pack the paint, they make it stagnant," Plum said. "You have to give them credit. Defensively, they've always been one of the best teams in the league. They switch a lot. They trap a lot. They kind of get you out of your rhythm."
Although the Sun finished the game with 18 assists to the Aces' eight, the Sun weren't in rhythm either, especially in the second half. Following an impassioned halftime speech from Hammonโ"I was lit," she saidโthe Aces turned the tide. They switched to a zone to counter Connecticut's larger lineups that featured 6'4" wing DeWanna Bonner alongside some combination of Jonquel Jones, Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas.
"I thought, at times, we got their zone to shift the way we wanted it to," Sun head coach Curt Miller said. "But didn't always take advantage or at least certainly didn't make some shots.โ
Miller noted that guard Natisha Hiedeman made a corner three midway through the fourth quarter, and because of the zone, Aces guard Jackie Young was late to contest the shot. Connecticut just didn't get enough of those zone-exploiting shots to fall.
The Sun also missed offensive opportunities in transition, an area where theyโve excelled all season.
"We just couldn't take three on three, four on three, three on two," Miller said. "We didn't find baskets when we did have those opportunities to run."
Connecticut also committed three shot-clock violations, which according to Sun assistant coach Chris Koclanes was a function of how loud the sellout crowd of 10,135 was at Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday afternoon.
"We'll have to have better clock awareness," he told B/R. "It's loud in here."
The Sun's guards, namely veterans Bonner and Courtney Williams, will also have to demonstrate improvement in Game 2. Both were cold on Sunday, combining to score eight points on 3-of-18 shooting. Connecticut is going to need more from both of them to have a chance at claiming the title.
Las Vegas and Connecticut came away from Game 1 with differing mindsets about the result, but which one will lead to victory in Game 2? Will it be the Aces' angst and anger, or the Sun's confidence and calm?
On Tuesday night, we'll find out.
Prediction: The Sun even the series at 1-1 before traveling back to Uncasville for Game 3. Williams moves a bit more without the ball and finds open spaces, while the Aces double-team the Sunโs most efficient players in Jonquel Jones and Brionna Jones. Kelsey Plum finds her shot in Game 2, but it won't be enough.
A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray Lead Aces Past Sun in Game 1 of 2022 WNBA Finals
Sep 11, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 11: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces high fives Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces during Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on September 11, 2022 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Aces survived a tough challenge from the Connecticut Sun in Game 1 of the 2022 WNBA Finals, earning a 67-64 win Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray led the way for the Aces. Wilson dropped a double-double, scoring 24 points and collecting 11 rebounds. Gray chipped in with 11 points and provided a lifeline for a Las Vegas offense that shot 39.7 percent from the floor.
DeWanna Bonner had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds but watched her three-point attempt hit the front rim.
In the first two rounds, the Aces simply overwhelmed the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm. Per WNBA.com, they led all teams in postseason offensive rating (114.7) and true shooting percentage (61.5) entering Sunday.
But stout defense has been a hallmark of the Sun under head coach Curt Miller. Connecticut succeeded in stifling Las Vegas and slowing down the pace of Game 1.
Still, it wasn't enough to stop the individual brilliance of Gray and the post presence of Wilson.
For Gray, Game 1 continued one of the hottest-shooting postseasons ever in the WNBA.
The Sun have time to right the ship in the best-of-five series. The trouble for Miller and his staff is that so much went right Sunday, but Connecticut is nevertheless staring at an 0-1 deficit.
Kelsey Plum shot 1-of-9 from the field and 1-of-7 from long range. Gray had three turnovers. Las Vegas as a team recorded just eight assists. The Sun could be in serious trouble if the No. 1 seed starts resembling the best and most lethal team in the WNBA again.
The Aces and Sun will return to the court Tuesday for Game 2.
Becky Hammon Named 2022 WNBA Coach of the Year in 1st Season with Aces
Aug 26, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 20: Head Coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces talks to the media after Round 1 Game 2 of the 2022 WNBA Playoffs on August 20, 2022 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
Becky Hammon did not have to wait long to find success in her first head coaching job.
The Las Vegas Aces coach was named WNBA Coach of the Year on Friday in her first season with the franchise.
Add @WNBA ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ to @BeckyHammon's debut season as Aces Head Coach!
#1 overall record #1 in scoring & offensive efficiency 2nd best winning percentage ever by a rookie H.C. Franchise record for wins in a season All-Star H.C. Commissioner's Cup Champ ๐ pic.twitter.com/9g08o0Dy7u
The Aces went 26-10 during the regular season, earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the third straight yeah. They swept the Phoenix Mercury in the first round and await the Seattle Storm in the conference semifinals.
Hammon received 27 out of 56 first-place votes. Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright finished second with 18 first-place votes, and the Chicago Sky's James Wade recieved eight first-place selections.
Hammon was hired as the Aces' head coach and general manager last December, taking over for Bill Laimbeer. She largely focused her efforts on retaining Las Vegas' talent-laden roster, inking extensions with Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum to fortify the future.
Young instantly made a leap under Hammon, earning her first All-Star berth and winning WNBA Most Improved Player. The Aces had an WNBA-high four players named to the All-Star team, with Young joining Plum, A'ja Wilson and Hamby.
Hammon previously served as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs from August 2014 until her hiring in Las Vegas. She has been considered by far the likeliest candidate to become the first woman to coach an NBA team.
A'ja Wilson Talks WNBA MVP Race, Historic Ruffles Partnership, More in B/R Interview
Aug 17, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 07: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces looks on during the third quarter against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on August 07, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A'ja Wilson has a number of goals she wants to achieve during her career, and she may soon be able to mark being mentioned among the WNBA's all-time greats off the list at just 26 years old.
The 2022 WNBA MVP race has essentially boiled down to the Las Vegas Aces star and Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm. The victor will join Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne as the only players in league history to win the award multiple times.
"Just being on a list with them is an honor in itself," Wilson told Bleacher Report. "It would mean the world, obviously, to win it, but at the same time I want a championship as well. There's a lot of things that I still want to check off that list. But to win another MVP would be a blessing for sure, and it's definitely an honor just to be among the names of the greats of our game."
Wilson already has the 2020 MVP and four All-Star selections on her resume as she continues to exceed the already sky-high expectations that were in place when the Aces took her with the No. 1 pick of the 2018 WNBA draft.
The 2022 campaign was another excellent one for her, as she averaged 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from deep while expanding her offensive attack beyond the three-point line for the first time in her career.
While Stewart also impressed with averages of 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, Wilson's Aces finished with the No. 1 seed in the league at 26-10.
Seattle is the No. 4 seed at 22-14.
"It was very important to us because of the season that we had, where midway through adversity hit us a little bit," Wilson said of finishing atop the standings. "Everyone was saying 'they peaked early' and all this. It's pretty cool to end as the No. 1 seed even though it really doesn't mean much because it can be anyone's game on any day. But it's truly special just to know that this is a pretty historic season for us, and we had a lot of fun doing it."
Las Vegas started 9-1 and then put the finishing touches on the regular season with a four-game winning streak that included Sunday's victory over the Storm that clinched the top seed.
Kelsey Plum went into takeover mode with seven points in the final minute, and Wilson stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block. It was a fitting performance seeing how they became the first teammates in WNBA history to each score more than 700 points in the same season.
Let me be very clear: A'ja Wilson didn't need to post 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block on the most important defensive possession of the game today to win the WNBA MVP. She did all that anyway while helping her team clinch the No. 1 seed. No debate.
With the dominant duo leading the way and a supporting cast featuring Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, who scored 33 points in the win over Seattle, the Aces are in championship-or-bust mode even though All-Star Dearica Hamby is out with a knee injury.
Wilson said "people have been putting that on me since my rookie year" when discussing those championship expectations, but the Aces have come close with an appearance in the 2020 WNBA Finals and semifinal showings in 2019 and 2021.
Perhaps the sideline presence of Becky Hammon will change their playoff fortunes this time around considering she led them to the best record in the league in just her first season as head coach.
"It's been so much fun playing under Becky," Wilson said. "You can tell that if her knee was a little better she would want to be out there with us, too. She just loves the game so much, and her basketball IQ is out of this world."
While Las Vegas hired Hammon ahead of the 2022 campaign, she was already a franchise legend with her jersey retired after the six-time All-Star played eight of her 16 seasons in the WNBA for the San Antonio Silver Stars, who later became the Aces.
Hammon came to Las Vegas with plenty of coaching experience after eight seasons as an assistant for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. It was a groundbreaking tenure that saw her become the first woman to be a full-time assistant in the NBA, first woman to be a head coach in the summer league, first woman to be part of an All-Star Game coaching staff and first woman to become acting head coach in a game after Gregg Popovich was ejected.
Yet it may have been Hammon's ability to relate to her players that stood out the most to Wilson during their first season together.
"I think the biggest surprise to me is honestly how cool she is," the MVP candidate said. "I saw her with the Spurs and she's like really cool, but now playing under her, she's so funny. She just wants to have fun and is always joking around. That's what we love the most about her. She can relate to us because she sat in that locker room before, and she knows how it feels in a timeout during a clutch game."
Hammon is known for breaking barriers, which is something Wilson is doing off the court as the first female athlete to sign a deal with Ruffles.
The new official chip of the WNBA added her to its roster of athletes that includes LeBron James, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis.
"It means a lot to be the first female athlete to sign because I know I'm the first but I'm not going to be the last," she said. "Just to be a stepping stone there is incredible. And to know now that they're the official chip of the W, it's like worlds colliding. I treat it like it's a snackaholic's dream, but honestly it is. I grew up on the chip, everyone knew the Ruffles and everyone had to have it."
Wilson's partnership includes her own signature flavor of Ruffles Ridge Twists Smoky BBQ, which was inspired by where she is from.
"It's been super fun to finally see smoky barbecue and my face on a bag," she said. "And, of course, the South Carolina roots that I have. Barbecue is always good in the south, especially in South Carolina. So just knowing that and how it's a twist and not your average potato chip, it's something that's special because it's different."
Different is also one way to describe the new WNBA playoffs format, which has all eight teams playing in the first round after six seasons of the top two seeds receiving a bye out of single-elimination openers.
This year's first round will be a best-of-three series with the better seed hosting the first two games, meaning Wilson and the top-seeded Aces may have to play a decisive Game 3 against the eighth-seeded Phoenix Mercury on the road.
While Las Vegas will likely be without Hamby for at least the first round, the Mercury have dealt with adversity all season and are far from the roster that eliminated the Aces in the semifinals last season.
As ESPN detailed, Brittney Griner has been imprisoned in Russia since February, Tina Charles left the team in June, Diana Taurasi has been sidelined with a quad injury and Skylar Diggins-Smith left the team for personal reasons.
Given that reality, the Aces are expected to advance against the team they went 3-0 against during the regular season.
Yet Wilson said they have to focus within when the series starts Wednesday.
"The biggest thing is we can be us and be true to us," she said. "Now is the time that you really need to lock into who you are as a team and your true identity. That's the beauty of it. We can look back and say 'we wish we had this,' and they can say 'we wish we had that,' but at the end of the day we just have to come together and, when the ball goes up, play our game."
If the Aces do that, Wilson might be able to check WNBA champion off her list as well.
Kelsey Plum Dominant as Aces Beat Sky to Win 2022 Commissioner's Cup
Jul 27, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 26: Jackie Young #0 hi-fives Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces during the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Game on July 26, 2022 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Aces used a dominant first quarter to take a 93-83 victory over the Chicago Sky in the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday. Kelsey Plum led the way with 24 points, six assists and two steals.
With the win, the Aces take home the $500,000 prize pool with each player on the team set to receive around $30,000. Chelsea Gray scored 19 points and was named Commissioner's Cup MVP, which earned her an additional $5,000.
The Sky were led by Candace Parker, who had a team-high 20 points and 14 rebounds. Emma Meesseman and Kahleah Copper each added 18 points. Chicago players were awarded around $10,000 each.
Plum started the game with three triples to spark a 13-0 run for Las Vegas. The Aces put the game out of reach in the opening period, taking a 33-14 lead after the first quarter. The Sky never held a lead in the entire game.
In addition to Plum's scorching play Tuesday, Jackie Young added 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. A'ja Wilson was an absolute force with 17 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks.
Chicago eventually cut the deficit to under 10 points late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.
The Commissioner's Cup was implemented in 2021 as an in-season tournament for the first half of the year. The Aces and Sky both went 9-1 in the 10 designated Cup games in order to reach Tuesday's final.
The second half of the 2022 WNBA season is set to begin Thursday night. The Aces and Sky will both be back in action Friday.
Sky to Face Aces in 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Finals for $500K Prize Pool
Jun 19, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 28: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Sky on May 28, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Chicago Sky will play the Las Vegas Aces on July 26 in the second edition of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final.
The Connecticut Sun lost 71-63 to the Washington Mystics, which meant nobody from the Eastern Conference could catch the Chicago Sky after they won their first eight cup games. The Aces had already secured the Western Conference's cup final berth.
The Commissioner's Cup boasts tangible stakes for those involved. Members of the winning team can earn up to $30,000 per player, and those on the losing team can collect as much as $10,000 per player.
"I do love that there's extra incentive for the players," Aces head coach Becky Hammon told reporters. "Anytime the league can throw a little bit of extra cash the players' way, I'm all for it."
The league probably couldn't have asked for a much better matchup, either.
The Sky own the WNBA's third-best record (10-5) as they continue the defense of their 2021 title. Kahleah Copper, who reported to the team late because of overseas commitments, is averaging a team-high 13.7 points to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists. In what's potentially her last season, Candace Parker continues filling up the stat sheet as well. She's averaging 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest.
On the other side sit the Aces, who have been by far the strongest team of 2022. Las Vegas ranks first in net rating (12.2), per WNBA.com, and boasts a trio of potential MVP candidates in A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum.
Hammering the Sun by 22 points in the inaugural Commissioner's Cup final seemingly reaffirmed the Seattle Storm's credentials in 2021 but proved to be a mirage. Seattle slumped to the finish line before losing to the Phoenix Mercury in the second round.
Beating the Sky in this year's final won't guarantee the Aces are crowned champions in the fall, but a one-sided victory over Chicago will send a clear message to the rest of the league.
Becky Hammon Reveals What Was 'Most Special' About 1st Win as Aces HC in WNBA
May 7, 2022
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 06: Head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces gestures during the first quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Footprint Center on May 06, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Becky Hammon's WNBA head coaching debut couldn't have gone much better as the Las Vegas Aces earned a 106-88 road win over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.
After the game, Hammon spoke with reporters about the "most special thing" regarding the matchup (h/t ESPN.com's Mechelle Voepel):
What made it really cool for me is I could feel their energy for me. I could feel how bad they wanted it for me. So that was probably the most special thing about it. They know there's a spotlight, and eventually, I've gotta move out of it and they've gotta move into it. It's about them. They're the ones getting stops and buckets out there. I'm just there to help them.
Hammon is in the spotlight this season for numerous reasons.
For starters, the ex-point guard is one of the WNBA's greatest all-time players after a career that included placement on the league's 25th Anniversary team, six All-Star appearances and four All-WNBA team nods.
Hammon was also the San Antonio Spurs' assistant head coach from 2014 to 2022. She was the Spurs' head coach for their 2015 Summer League title and served as an assistant coach during the 2016 All-Star Game.
Hammon also became the Spurs' acting head coach after Gregg Popovich was ejected in a Dec. 30, 2020, matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.
She interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers' and Orlando Magic's open head coaching positions last summer, but the jobs went to Chauncey Billups and Jamahl Mosley, respectively.
Ultimately, Hammon decided the time was now to run her own team, and she made the leap back to the WNBA to run the Aces.
"My heart was saying it was time to go. This is where I am supposed to be right now," she told The Associated Press in January. "There were a lot of sleepless nights getting to this conclusion."
She added: "Las Vegas sees me as a head coach now. The WNBA has called every year with job openings. ... Iโve always said thank you Iโm very flattered, but stayed on this path. This was first time where I was like, 'Iโll listen.'"
On Friday, the spotlight was on the players too.
The Aces incurred a big loss this offseason after losing four-time All-Star Liz Cambage to the Los Angeles Sparks. However, they were firing on all cylinders Friday against the Mercury, last year's championship runner-up.
Las Vegas led 54-32 at the half. All five starters scored in double figures, with Dearica Hamby dropping 24 points. Former WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson posted a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum each scored 20 points.
Phoenix was playing without superstar center Brittney Griner, who remains detained in Russia after customs officials said she had vape cartridges during a customs check. The United States government recently reclassified Griner as "wrongfully detained."
The Mercury likely would have made this game closer with Griner on the floor. The Aces offense was sensational, though, as they shot 58.2 percent from the field and made 11-of-21 three-pointers.
Las Vegas will make its home 2022 debut Sunday at 10 p.m. ET against the Seattle Storm.
