LAS VEGAS — The Aces are closing in on a three-peat, fueled by WNBA star A’ja Wilson’s leadership both on and off the court.
The Las Vegas Aces have moved one step closer to winning their third championship in four years after their victory against the Phoenix Mercury. The women’s team played the Arizona team on Sunday and won 91-78, thanks to the efforts of center Wilson and shooting guard Jackie Young in the third quarter. This resulted in a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven WNBA finals.
While the team fell short of their quest to three-peat in 2024, this season’s outlook is more optimistic. But the journey didn’t start smoothly. Following their Aug. 2 loss to the Minnesota Lynx — the worst defeat in franchise history — Wilson realized a mindset shift was needed. This was the moment the text that motivated the team and potentially changed the season for the better happened.
“At first I thought, ‘I don’t want my teammates to feel everything I’m feeling right now. Then I realized: How can I help them understand that this is the last time we’re going to feel this way?” Wilson told ESPN.
She added, “I was dissecting the game in my head: What did [the Lynx] do that we could not do? It was just that they played harder. That’s when I decided to send the infamous text message.”
The message read:
“If you weren’t embarrassed from yesterday, then don’t come into this gym. You’re not needed or wanted here. We need the mindset to shift, because that was embarrassing.”
That text was the push the team needed, as in the next game, they rebounded with a win against Golden State, and now they’re looking at a three-peat. The team’s strong performances throughout the season and potential to win the championship positions Las Vegas as a powerhouse sports city.
The Aces will face Phoenix Mercury again on Oct. 8.
