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The Aces are known for their dominant play and back-to-back championships. Mark Davis, owner of the Raiders and Aces, took a gamble and purchased the Aces in 2021. Since then, Aces raked in the accolades, including their 2022 and 2023 championships, a three-time MVP with A’ja Wilson (2020, 2022, 2024), the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year with Wilson, the 2024 Dawn Staley Community Leadership award, and other accolades for Jackie Young, Tiffany Hayes, and Chelsea Gray.
It’s safe to say that winning is in the Aces’ blood. However, after being eliminated from the 2024 playoffs by the New York Liberty, head coach Becky Hammon prepared for drastic changes to the roster.
“It’s not going to be the same group probably next year,” said Hammon after the elimination game, “it just won’t. And I’m sad because I really liked that group.”
Hammon predicted the future. All four unrestricted free agents left the team and the Aces signed multiple free agents from across the league as well.
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Those who left
Kelsey Plum was the first player to leave the Aces in a three way trade with the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm. Plum went to the Sparks after becoming a free agent. In return, the Aces received Olympian Jewell Loyd from the Storm.
Former Aces guard Sydney Colson was the next to leave Las Vegas. Colson signed a one-year deal with the Indiana Fever, joining Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. Colton had 76 points in the regular season with the Aces, with a field goal percentage of 42.2%,. She made 27 out of 64 shots, 14 out of 37 3-pointers, and eight out of nine free throws in the 2024 season.
“I mean, I think she’s somebody who-she was a big glue piece for us,” said Hammon about Colton. “I know she was silly, and she has all the funny things on social media and this and that, but she- let no mistake be about it- like she’s always the adult in the room. She knows how to turn it on, turn it off when it’s appropriate.”
The reigning Sixth Woman of the Year Tiffany Hayes was next to leave. Hayes signed with the Golden State Valkyries, under the direction of former assistant coach Natalie Nakase. After coming back to the game in 2024 from retirement, Hayes joined the Aces in pursuit of a championship.
After retiring from the league after the 2023 season, Hayes announced she would join the Aces for 2024. Since then, she averaged 9.5 points per game, along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Shooting 50% for field goals, 40.2% from the 3-point one, and 71.4% in free throws, Hayes won the 2024 Sixth Woman of the Year. The Sixth Woman of the Year Award goes to the best player coming off the bench.
Alysha Clark is making her return to the Seattle Storm for the 2025 season. Clark played a pivotal role in the 2023 championship for the Aces, raking up 74 points. Clark had 40 rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals. She had a field goal percentage of 52.9%, making 27 out of 51 shots, all in the 2023 postseason play. Clark won her first two championships with the Storm in 2018 and 2020, and looks to win another in the Pacific Northwest.
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New Additions
After the trade that brought Loyd to Las Vegas, rookie Elizabeth Kitley was the second player to sign a contract with the Aces. Kitley went 24th overall in the 2024 draft and sat out during the 2024 season due to a torn ACL. After rehabilitation, Kitley made her debut against the Dallas Wings in a pre-season matchup.
Kitley made a name for herself in college, earning the ACC Player of the Year three times. She made the All-America First Team from The Athletic and The Sporting News, All-ACC First Team four times, and the ACC All-Defensive Team three times. Kitley is the only woman in ACC history to record 2,500 points and 1,500 rebounds. She averaged 17.9 points per game in college, earning 2709 points in total. In her collegiate career, she made 331 blocks, and had 75 steals.
Kitley made her anticipated debut against the Dallas Wings, playing for five minutes. While she had no blocks or points, her debut was a stepping stone for the season.
In the second preseason game against the Phoenix Mercury, Kitley’s defensive game showed within the 10 minutes of time on the court. Kitley managed a rebound, steal, and a block that electrified the bench.
“It’s been awesome,” said Hammon. “I mean, having gone through ACLs myself, it’s a process, and she’s worked really hard. It’s a grind. There’s a lot of dark days that nobody gets to see. You just get to see her walk out with these lights, and that’s not always the case. It’s just a really great tribute to her work ethic, her desire to get back out on the court and get with her teammates and be great. I thought she did a great job battling in there.”
While Kitley is back on the court, it will take time for her to get back in her groove and return to her college form. However, it won’t get her down. This is the start of her career, and the Aces are proving that she’s earned her spot.
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“These preseason games were mainly about me getting my feet wet,” said Kitley. “I hadn’t played any game in like 14 months, so to have any opportunity to get on the floor was really amazing for me, and I’m really proud of myself for getting to that point, and yeah, it’s all you know, hopefully going to be uphill from there.”
Former Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus signed a one-year deal with the Aces. Parker-Tyus averaged 15 points per game with the Dream, totaling 231 points in 2024. In her career, she tallied 2,549 points, along with 1422 rebounds, 303 assists, 213 steals, and 250 blocks.
After a trade with the Chicago Sky, Dana Evans became an Ace. The Aces sent the Sky the 16th and 22nd overall picks in the WNBA draft, in which the Sky selected Maddy Westbeld from Notre Dame and Aisha Coulibaly from Texas A&M. Evans started 12 out of 39 games last season, scoring 279 points with the Chicago Sky. She had 43 rebounds and 94 assists, proving to be a key offensive player.
Tiffany Mitchell, a free agent from the Connecticut Sun, joined the Aces for the 2025 season. In the preseason alone, she averaged seven points in just two games. She came off of a season where she averaged 4.9 points per game, scoring 118 points during the season. In her WNBA tenure, she’s racked up 2,354 points in nine seasons.
In the 2025 draft, the Aces did not have a first round pick. However, in the second round, the Aces drafted an offensive weapon: Aaliyah Nye. The 6’0 guard and forward played 142 games in her collegiate career, starting 128. She totaled 1,739 points in five seasons, along with 358 rebounds, 162 assists, 170 steals, and 48 blocks. Nye made the 2023-24 All-SEC second team, but her skill allowed her to have an impressive preseason debut.
The Aces selected Harmoni Turner from Harvard in the third round. Turner won the 2024-25 Ivy League Player of the Year, Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, and other Ivy League accolades. Turner scored 2032 points in her Harvard tenure, along with 668 rebounds, 405 assists, 269 steals, and 23 blocks.
After signing training camp contracts, guard Elena Tsineke from South Florida and forward Jordyn Jenkins from the University of Texas-San Antonio were waived. Turner was waived after the second preseason game against the Mercury. The Aces waived veteran center Queen Egbo after the game against the Mercury as well.
Aces Injury Report
Along with most teams, the Aces are going into the season with players ruled out due to injury. Megan Gustafson was the most notable and recent injury, being ruled out to an injury in her lower left leg.
Evans was ruled out due to a left knee injury. She is currently listed with a day-to-day condition.
“I’m blessed to have a great staff that’s been very supportive and helping me along,” said Evans. “This way, I got here around the 12th, and I feel like they’ve been very helpful throughout this process.I don’t feel like they’ve been rushing me or anything.I don’t feel like they’ve been rushing me or anything.”
Parker-Tyus is out indefinitely due to pregnancy. She is out indefinitely.
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Preseason Showdowns
The Aces opened up their preseason schedule with a dominant win over the Dallas Wings. The game was held at Purcell Pavilion at Notre Dame, located in South Bend, IN. Jackie Young and Arike Ogunbowale returned to their Alma mater in a star-studded showdown.
Young put on an impressive performance for her Alma mater and former head coach Muffet McGraw, scoring 28 out of 112 points. She maintained a perfect free-throw record throughout the game, scoring all 13. She also had the most assists with nine.
“Yeah, it was super special being back at Notre Dame,” said Young. “You know, I didn’t get my senior day, so, yeah, I finally got it. But it was cool being back in front of my friends and family, getting to play in front of coach McGraw, Coach Ivy, CO, and then just being back on campus, you know, being able to play with Jewell, against Arike, so it was just really a full circle moment for me,”
Nye made an impressive debut, scoring 17 points off the bench. Nye went five for eight in 3-pointers, and six for 11 on field goals.
“I can tell you, she’s been super consistent in practice, and then she went out there and did it in game,” said Becky Hammon, “She just, she doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. She has a very green light. So she- for being such a young player, she has pro habits, so it’s kind of not surprising. She’s kind of mature beyond her years insofar as her approach and how she looks at the game. She is a stone cold killer. She’s ice cold.”
To close out the preseason, the Aces added pink into their color scheme for “A’One Night,” honoring the release of A’ja Wilson’s shoe line with Nike. They faced off against the Phoenix Mercury, who fared in their first preseason game.
The Aces took this game in a narrow 85-84 win. The team had a strong start, but Satou Sabally’s 3-pointer was a turning point, giving the Mercury their first lead of the game.
While it was Wilson’s special night, undrafted rookie Deja Kelly stole the show. Not only did Kelly have 15 points off the bench, more than any other player on the court, Kelly also made the game winning shot. After her stellar performance, Kelly earned her spot on the team, making it to the opener against the New York Liberty.
“I think it’s just a sense of gratitude, you know, just for this opportunity to be able to be playing in this arena on her special night,” said Kelly. “Out of all these fans wearing this jersey, I think overall, it’s just taking advantage, seizing the moment, and really just embracing the opportunity for sure.”
The Aces closed out their preseason record with a perfect 2-0 record. While the game against Phoenix was narrow, the Aces look to clean up their play for their next challenge. With a new roster, a start-studded starting lineup, and one goal, the Aces are prepared for the upcoming season.
The Aces take on the defending champions, the New York Liberty, on May 17. Tip off is at 1 p.m. EST and 10 a.m. PST. The game will be live on ABC, ESPN+, and Disney+.
Want more team-by-team previews for the 2025 WNBA season? Read them all here!
