Entering the 2025 season, the Las Vegas Aces knew they had championship-caliber star power. What remained uncertain was whether they had enough depth behind it.
Six games in — and following a 75–70 win over the Seattle Storm in their Commissioner’s Cup opener — that question is beginning to shift toward an answer.
Las Vegas leaned on its bench for critical contributions Sunday, with Dana Evans, Aaliyah Nye, and Tiffany Mitchell combining for 22 points in 44 minutes. The trio brought energy on both ends and helped steady the Aces in a game that demanded execution and grit, not just top-end talent.
“Per usual, (Aaliyah’s) ready to go, she was locked in,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “I thought Dana’s run for us in that first half was really, really good. Was pesky defensively, and then was hitting shots, getting downhill offensively. I thought Tiff Mitchell played great minutes. So good bench minutes overall for us, and that’s something I want to continue to build on.”
Las Vegas Aces Bench No Longer a Weak Link?
Once considered a potential weakness after the offseason departure of former Sixth Player of the Year Alysha Clark, the Aces’ second unit is beginning to flip the script.
“I mean, we see it,” A’ja Wilson said. “Becky said it in the locker room — they be kicking our ass at practice. I feel like we’re developing that trust factor now, early on in the season, trusting one another and knowing exactly what each player can give, and making sure that we can heighten that.”
Evans set the tone the moment she checked in. She knocked down a corner three to open the second quarter, applied pressure on the ball, and played with composure as a secondary creator.
Meanwhile, Nye delivered her breakout performance. After playing just five minutes in Friday’s win over Los Angeles, the rookie scored a career-high 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting and added three made free throws in just over 11 minutes. She made only 1-of-4 from deep but found other ways to be effective — flashing a more complete offensive game.
“She can shoot it so well that when she attacks closeouts, you have to pick your poison — do you short close and keep her in front, or long close and risk the drive?” Hammon said. “I thought she did a great job. She’s been super solid all year.”
Hammon also admitted Nye’s opportunity came after a shift in her own approach.
“Our last game, I got frustrated with the bench and kind of forgot about her,” she said. “And I told her I apologize for that. So I told her to be ready today and, per usual, she’s ready to go.”
Nye said her focus remains on building trust and chemistry alongside the team’s veterans.
“As we play together, we’re getting more comfortable,” she said. “We want to just keep what the first group has and hone off that, stay in the game, and do the right thing — the disciplined plays that we’re taught to do.”
Mitchell also provided timely production, including a momentum-saving three-pointer in the third quarter that helped reestablish control after a Storm push. Her defensive activity and composure helped stabilize a stretch where Las Vegas needed it most.
Together, Evans, Nye, and Mitchell helped turn what had been one of the Aces’ biggest early-season questions into a growing strength. The rotation is still evolving, but Sunday showed that Hammon’s trust in her bench is becoming a real part of how this team wins.
Defense Trending in the Right Direction
Coming into Sunday’s game, Hammon made her expectations clear: the Aces needed to pressure the ball earlier in possessions — or risk falling short again.
“We’re not picking up around that 75-percent mark on the floor? We’re not doing it right,” Hammon said pregame. “So you can just know — if our pickup points suck, I’m pissed.”
It didn’t take long for her team to respond.
The Aces forced eight turnovers in the first quarter alone, the most they’ve caused in any single period this season. It set the tone for a gritty defensive showing that helped Las Vegas hold the Storm to 70 points and 36.4% shooting from beyond the arc.
One of the key catalysts was Evans, who brought instant energy with her on-ball pressure. Evans not only opened the second quarter with a three, but made life difficult for Seattle’s guards by picking them up early and disrupting flow.
“Dana’s run for us in that first half was really, really good,” Hammon said. “Was pesky defensively, and then was hitting shots, getting downhill offensively.”
The full-court effort — especially from Evans and Mitchell — helped Vegas flip 19 Seattle turnovers into 21 points.
“We harped on defense all week long — defense, defense, defense,” Wilson said. “That’s huge for us. We know that’s what’s gonna get us flowing. So I was just happy with the fact that we really actually transitioned it over from practice courts to that game.”
It was a marked shift from the two games the Aces lost earlier this season, when they allowed 97 points per contest. In their four wins, they’ve now held opponents to 71.3 points on average. Sunday’s effort reflected both schematic adjustments and a renewed emphasis on effort — one Hammon made non-negotiable.
“Our zone worked well in the first half, not so great in the second half,” Hammon said. “But good for us for closing down the stretch when I had like zero timeouts.”
A’ja Wilson Leads Without the Whistle
For just the fifth time in her WNBA career, A’ja Wilson didn’t attempt a single free throw. And yet, she still led the team with 19 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks — anchoring Las Vegas on both ends and extending her double-digit scoring streak to 57 games, tied for the eighth longest in league history.
“I sometimes just gotta play and just know that I’m not getting the call and just keep going, and make sure that I just not let it take me out my game,” Wilson said. “I’m probably gonna fuss and yell at the refs, but they had a respectful conversation with me back so I can take that. But most definitely, this is just a league and a game that I can’t expect just to get calls. I gotta continue to be me, continue to help my teammates get open and we go from there.”
Wilson also played through lingering illness and later said, “It’s a day-by-day process… I can’t wait to go back home and get in my bed.”
What’s Next for the Las Vegas Aces?
Las Vegas improves to 4–2 and now gets five days off before facing the expansion Golden State Valkyries on the road in another Commissioner’s Cup showdown. The game airs nationally on ABC on June 7 at 3 p.m. ET.
Las Vegas Aces stars still set the ceiling — but if this evolving second unit continues to deliver and the defense stays sharp, the floor is rising quickly.
“Whether it’s the first player or the 12th player,” Wilson said, “we’re gonna all hold each other accountable.”
