NFL
By: Shannon Murray
Championship expectations have become standard for the Las Vegas Aces. But as the 2026 season begins, routine is precisely what makes this year feel unpredictable.
Following another postseason run and an offseason centered more on continuity than reinvention, the Aces return with one of the league’s strongest cores, familiar leadership, and the pressure to maintain dominance in the competitive WNBA landscape.
The Offseason
During the offseason, the Aces focused on strengthening the foundation that already makes them one of the WNBA’s most formidable teams. The Aces are led by their reigning star, A’ja Wilson, and guided by head coach Becky Hammon. Las Vegas entered the offseason with less pressure to reinvent the team and more pressure to maintain the standard it has created. Core players like Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray remain central to the Aces’ identity. Meanwhile, the organization added depth to a roster that already understands how to perform under pressure.
The Threat
What continues to make Las Vegas dangerous is familiarity. The team has spent years building chemistry, learning to navigate high-pressure moments. They know how to respond when games tighten in the final minutes.
The Aces possess a visible confidence in the way they play, especially when momentum shifts. They maintain a level of composure and ease that is difficult to replicate, even among the league’s most talented teams. As the WNBA grows deeper and increasingly competitive, the team’s experience, trust, and established chemistry will be its biggest advantages entering the 2026 season.
The Challenge
The biggest hurdle the Aces face this season may not be talent, but evolution. While the rest of the league is rapidly progressing by expanding their rosters and developing emerging stars, the Aces lean on the strength of continuity. As other teams aggressively build around their new, younger talent, questions may arise about whether the Aces can adapt fast enough to stay ahead. Las Vegas does not face pressure to prove it is elite; its challenge is simply to defend. This reality ushers in a unique level of scrutiny into every season, matchup, and postseason expectation.
The Next Chapter
As the Aces have started their 2026 campaign this afternoon against the Phoenix Mercury, expectations remain sky-high. A blowout loss does not dictate the season vibes. Opening day already carried added intrigue, as Las Vegas was looking to extend its regular-season winning streak. Winning is now standard, not achievement. A’ja Wilson and the Aces enter as one of the league’s defining teams. The question is no longer whether they can compete, but whether they can continue to evolve while defending the standard they created.
The foundation is already in place for another compelling season; the ladies in Las Vegas are a must-see.
