The Las Vegas Strip was buzzing with pleasure because the thirtieth WNBA season started for the Aces on Saturday afternoon.
The Las Vegas Aces tipped off their first house recreation of the season in entrance of an energized crowd at T-Cell Enviornment, but it surely was a troublesome opening chapter for the 2025 champions, who confronted Finals rival the Phoenix Mercury and got here up quick.
Simply forward of the house opener, the Aces celebrated with a pregame championship ring ceremony to honor their third title. To assist have fun the event, the primary 7,500 followers into the sector got an Aces-branded “Three of a Sort” flag that replicates the shirts and signage seen in the course of the 2025 championship celebration final October.
“This ring is a testomony to what the 2025 Las Vegas Aces completed — and a reminder that every considered one of them is a champion, each on and off the courtroom,” Mark Davis, Proprietor of the Las Vegas Aces stated.
The 2025 championship ring options the enduring Aces emblem, encircled by the WORLD CHAMPIONS title in diamonds. Based on a press launch despatched to The Blast from the Aces group, “Crowning the design, the 2022, 2023, and 2025 WNBA trophies stand tall, every set with a big diamond to commemorate three championships in 4 years.” There are 4 custom-cut baguette diamonds beneath every trophy and 17 black diamonds that symbolize the workforce’s ascent to their third title and honor the 17 consecutive wins that helped them attain a historic and unforgettable championship run.
Revenge In Vegas: Phoenix Mercury Crash Aces’ Opening Evening
To kickoff the season, the Aces confronted the Mercury, who they went 3-1 in opposition to in 2025, successful the final three matchups earlier than sweeping the Mercury 4-0 within the WNBA Finals in October. Two Aces gamers have been listed as out for this recreation – Dana Evans for left leg and Janiah Barker for concussion protocol.
The Mercury got here again with a vengeance after final season’s Finals sweep by the Aces, opening the 2026 season with a 99–66 blowout. The Aces have been led by A’ja Wilson with 19 factors, and Alyssa Thomas led Phoenix with 20 factors.
Within the postgame press convention, head coach Becky Hammon stated the final couple of weeks the workforce has been “working our conditioning” and that she doesn’t assume they’re “in ok form to play on the stage that we have to.” She additional defined that “the protection, it seems to be like we haven’t labored on it.”
When NaLyssa Smith was requested concerning the dialog within the locker room after the powerful loss, she shared they spoke about sticking collectively.
“That is one recreation of 40-something video games, so simply not panicking early and simply sticking collectively,” she stated. “We all know have a variety of video games forward of us.”
Wilson, who additionally joined the postgame convention, talked a bit of about why she’s not a fan of emotional ceremonies earlier than a recreation.
“I hate these ceremonies like this. Clearly, you need to get pleasure from it however on the similar time, there’s a complete enterprise aspect of it it’s a must to care for and it’s arduous to compartmentalize that at instances,” Wilson stated. “I want we might do issues afterwards or earlier than however clearly we’d like to have fun with the followers, however I’m not a fan of it as a result of it’s very arduous to separate feelings on each side.”
An Unique Screening Of ‘By no means Fold’ Occurred Earlier In The Week
Simply earlier than the season started, the Aces held an unique screening of their fourth documentary, “By no means Fold: The 2025 Las Vegas Aces.” The movie supplied a deeper perspective on final season’s struggles and triumphs than followers had seen earlier than — and it left hardly a dry eye in the home.
Many diehard followers got here out for the screening held at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & On line casino. The whole Aces squad was additionally in attendance for the screening, in addition to Head Coach Becky Hammon, President and GM Nikki Fargas, and Vice President of Artistic Storytelling Katie Morgan.
After the screening, Hammon, Fargas, Morgan, and three gamers, Chelsea Grey, Jackie Younger, and Jewell Loyd have been a part of a panel that Aces host CJ Simpson hosted.
What Did Followers Assume Of The Documentary?
The gang laughed, cried, screamed, and was absolutely engaged within the screening from begin to end.
Adam Hollimon a longtime fan of the Aces, shared his ideas solely with The Blast, saying that this documentary was “excess of a recap of a championship season.”
“Attending video games all through the 2025 WNBA season, I assumed I had already seen the journey unfold however this movie took us again to day one and gave a deeper look into the moments many followers by no means noticed,” he stated. “From the early phases of Cheyenne Parker-Tyus’ being pregnant, to Megan Gustafson’s damage, to Kierstan Bell and Jackie Younger each coping with private losses, the documentary always reminds viewers that this story is about rather more than basketball.”
Hollimon additionally shared that he loved the panel after the movie and what stood out for him essentially the most.
“One quote from Katie Morgan stood out to me – ‘Whether or not you’re the twelfth spot or the highest participant on the roster, everybody deserves a narrative.’ That message completely captures the spirit of this documentary,” he stated. “I already appreciated this workforce all through the season, however this movie made me respect these ladies much more. I might watch it many times.”
Hollimon’s pal, Christian Brown, additionally had a raving assessment concerning the movie.
“This doc does such an incredible job of explaining the main points and capturing the essence of the season. Anyone might tune in to this documentary and perceive the workforce and their personalities from the primary to the twelfth roster spot,” he shared with The Blast. “You can really feel such as you lived each second and took the experience with the workforce.”
He added that Katie Morgan did an “wonderful job organising and placing collectively a narrative that was not solely participating from begin to end but additionally confirmed key tales all through the season and everyday points and hardships that groups undergo once they’re constructing a successful workforce tradition.”
Brown stated the important thing takeaways for him consists of the workforce’s vulnerability, how dedicated they’re to the group and one another, and the workforce’s willingness to do no matter it takes to win.
The documentary is now streaming on the Aces’ YouTube channel.
Up Subsequent For The Aces…
The 2025 champions are taking the present on the highway to play the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, Might 10 at 3 p.m. at Crypto.com Enviornment. The sport can be broadcast nationally on ION and regionally on Las Vegas on The Spot-Vegas 34.
They keep on the highway for a number of extra video games – Wednesday, Might 13 and Friday, Might 15 the Aces play the Connecticut Solar, then head to Atlanta to play the Dream on Sunday, Might 17 earlier than heading again to Vegas to face the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday, Might 23.
Take a look at the complete 2026 season schedule on the Aces’ web site. And keep tuned to The Blast for all of your Las Vegas Aces information!
