That was a little less than a year ago. Led by their “rookie coach” Becky Hammon, the young Las Vegas Aces franchise lifted its first WNBA championship title.
A beautiful story that brings the players and their coach to the White House, where their success was celebrated on Friday by the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, in the absence of Joe Biden, still on vacation.
“It was only five years ago that this franchise moved to Las Vegas and today they are the first major professional sports team in Nevada history to win a title, and that’s because this team embodies courage and determination, said Kamala Harris in particularwhich also highlighted the franchise’s involvement in the fight to free Brittney Griner, imprisoned in Russia from February to December 2022. “Our nation is stronger because of your leadership. For example, when a US citizen was wrongfully detained overseas, you organized and championed her case in an extraordinary and fierce way. You mobilized people, you raised questions, you helped educate people about what was at stake, all in support of Brittney Griner.”
Chelsea Gray, MVP of the final won against Connecticut, and A’Ja Wilson, MVP of the regular season, then presented a team jersey to Kamala Harris with her name on the back and the number 49.
This season, the Las Vegas Aces continue to fly over the WNBA, to the point of becoming the first team to reach 30 victories in the regular season, four more than the New York Liberty of Marine Johannes. Despite their defeat in the final of the Commissioner’s Cup against this same Liberty, the formation of Becky Hammon remains favorite to succeed when the playoffs begin on September 10.
