The Las Vegas Aces currently hold the second-best record in the WNBA and the top record in the Western Conference under the guidance of rookie head coach Becky Hammon.
The former San Antonio Stars and New York Liberty legend came to Las Vegas after eight years as an assistant coach on Gregg Popovich’s coaching staff. Hammon seemingly hit a wall in the NBA after not being hired last summer, but after a memorable WNBA career and earning her coaching stripes with the Spurs, Hammon elected to go where she would be appreciated and given a chance to show she can run the show.
Becky Hammon said she was quite close to becoming New York’s head coach and had “multiple conversations” with Liberty decision makers before eventually landing in Las Vegas.
— Owen Pence (@OwenPence) July 12, 2022
(Q: @DougFeinberg )
Before Hammon ultimately ended up with Las Vegas, she reportedly had “multiple conversations” with the New York Liberty about becoming their next head coach. Hammon spent eight seasons with the franchise, earned two All-Star bids, and was named to the All-WNBA second team before they traded her to San Antonio.
Had Hammon decided to sign with New York, she would’ve been able to coach All-Star talent like Sabrina Ionescu and 2021 selection Betnijah Laney.
However, choosing the Aces meant getting to coach a team that’s been on the precipice of winning a title since the franchise moved from San Antonio to Las Vegas. She gets to coach a former League MVP in A’ja Wilson and two-time Sixth Woman of the Year in Dearica Hamby. Hammon also has other lethal weapons to utilize, like Kelsey Plum and Syndey Colson. The team also has a championship vet in Chelsea Grey.
Truthfully, she couldn’t have gone wrong with either choice, but Las Vegas was the most talent-laden roster she had a choice of picking.
The Aces pick up the second half of their schedule against the runner-up to Hammons coaching service on Thursday in New York.
