Aces Full Of Queens
This Las Vegas Aces team has a real case to be the greatest in WNBA history, and somehow they’re sitting as the third choice in the futures market at at least one book. That’s the kind of number that makes you stop and reassess what the market is actually pricing — because on paper and on the court, this group looks like something far more dominant.
To understand it, you go back to early 2023. When Candace Parker was healthy, that version of the Aces was the best team I’ve ever seen. Candace, one of the all-time greats, embraced a role-player mindset late in her career. She did the little things, moved the ball, defended, and elevated everyone around her. That balance made the machine work at an elite level.
This year’s team has a chance to be even better.
It starts with A’ja Wilson, the best player in the game and the emotional and competitive anchor of this roster. She’s not just dominant statistically — she’s the leader that makes everything fit. When you have the best player who also sets the tone culturally, everything else becomes easier. That’s why concerns about personalities or locker room dynamics feel overblown. This group is clearly buying in.
Credit also goes to Becky Hammon, whose leadership continues to be one of the biggest edges in the league. She understands how to manage talent, how to build roles, and most importantly, how to get stars to sacrifice just enough to make the whole thing work.
The supporting cast looks far more settled this season. Jewell Lloyd and NaLyssa Smith appear comfortable and fully integrated into the Aces’ identity. Last year, there were moments where they felt like short-term pieces — players brought in to help secure a title. Now, they look like they belong. They’ve embraced the culture and turned Las Vegas into a true basketball home.
Chelsea Gray remains one of the best point guards in the league, and when the lights are brightest, she might be the best player on the floor. She’s built for the postseason, thrives in pressure, and consistently delivers in clutch moments. That matters more than anything when evaluating a championship team.
Jackie Young continues her steady climb and is now firmly in the conversation as a top-five guard in the WNBA. Her growth, consistency, and ability to impact the game on both ends make her a foundational piece.
And then there’s the wildcard: Chennedy Carter. She brings a different element — explosiveness, one-on-one scoring, and unpredictability. More importantly, she looks happy. She looks grateful to be part of this rotation. That matters. If she stays locked in, she might be the toughest individual matchup in the league, likely coming off the bench and creating problems immediately.
Speaking of the bench, that was the one real weakness last season. It’s no longer an issue. The depth has improved, and that gives this team flexibility it didn’t have before.
Don’t expect them to run away with the regular-season record. The league is deeper now, and the Aces have a target on their back after winning three of the last four titles. Every opponent will treat them like a championship game.
But that’s not the goal anyway.
This team is built for the postseason. They understand the long game. And when the time comes, they look like a group capable of peaking at a level the rest of the league simply can’t match.
