Life is sweet for the Las Vegas Aces. The proud franchise had a great year in 2022, finishing with the WNBA’s best record, winning the Commissioner’s Cup, earning MVP, DPOY, Most Valuable Player, and Coach of the Year honors, and bookending their first-ever championship.
The Aces, who had a fantastic year, talk about it with confidence, like they are champions who had a great year. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. That couldn’t be truer for reigning Finals MVP and Point God Chelsea Gray. In fact, the former Duke Blue Devil has made it clear that she plans to lead Las Vegas to back-to-back championships and have everyone on the same championship parade.
“We’re not done here, okay? We’re still going,” Gray said. work out. “That’s the one. See you at the next parade.”
Man this picture is so iconic
(through @TashanRid) pic.twitter.com/vfrdOPSNgV
— WSLAM (@wslam) September 21, 2022
Kelsey Plum had the same idea during the parade, as did general manager Natalie Williams. Aces owner Mark Davis was the happiest. Davis has invested heavily in women’s basketball, hiring Becky Hammon for a record-breaking fee and making big hires for Williams and team president Niki Fargas. Davis’s plan to build a 50,000-square-foot facility is set to be completed in 2023.
“To the greatest fans in professional sports: Las Vegas, we are the champions of the world,” Davis told the crowd. “It wasn’t an overnight journey. The WNBA and this franchise have been around for 26 years. But over the years, we’ve had alumni, fans, staff and coaches who have helped build this organization to where it is today, and I want to thank all of them, because you were a part of this.”
Kelsey Plum is really cool pic.twitter.com/h5eHak4ZeN
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) September 21, 2022
Las Vegas will be a title threat thanks to its young core. A’ja Wilson will be 26, Jackie Young will be 25, and Plum and Dearica Hamby will be 28. Gray and Riquna Williams will be 30 and 32, respectively. But both guards have shown they can provide more than just fireworks when it matters most. Gray, in particular, won Finals MVP for her tough shot-making.
“We don’t play, but we have to cry!!”
No this parade is gonna get really wild
@SydJColson pic.twitter.com/miyDBGYS3B
— WSLAM (@wslam) September 21, 2022
Next season, the Aces will look to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Los Angeles Sparks did so in 2000 and 2001.
