Callie Fin

Aces’ ‘battery’ provides competitive edge during WNBA Finals run Guard Dana Evans scored 21 points in Game 1 on Friday and her competitive edge has already benefited the Aces in the WNBA Finals.

Wrote about Dana Evans after her big Game 1 vs. Phoenix. She's living in a "surreal" culmination of a long journey, but it's not enough. She just wants to keep winning:

Aces’ ‘battery’ provides competitive edge during WNBA Finals run lvrj.com/post/3481557

Embattled WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert will still address the media an hour ahead of Game 1 of the Aces-Mercury WNBA Finals on Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena, I'm told.

‘The job’s not done’: Aces back in Finals after OT win over Fever — PHOTOS The Aces are going to the WNBA Finals for the third time in four years after an overtime win over the Indiana Fever in Game 5 of their semifinals series Tuesday.

Becky Hammon relished the Aces’ path to last night’s Game 5 vs. the Fever before it started, saying “you couldn’t write it any better.”

Writing is my job though, so here’s how I put the victory to return to the WNBA Finals into words for @reviewjournal ⬇️
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Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter @calliefin.bsky.social dug deep into team development research to talk this year’s ever-evolving Las Vegas Aces. She busted out the Tuckman Ladder, circa 1965. Respect. 🙏

Listen to the full interview: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

With the Aces-Fever series headed to a game 5, Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter @calliefin.bsky.social discusses what didn’t work for the Aces in game 4, Becky Hammon’s coaching decisions & how the Tuckman Development Model is applicable everywhere, even the W!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...

Aces lack ‘pep’ in loss to Fever to open 2nd-round WNBA playoffs series The Aces lacked urgency and lost Game 1 of their best-of-five WNBA playoffs semifinals matchup with the Indiana Fever on Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena.

“They played with a greater sense of urgency. We couldn’t catch up,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said after her team’s 2nd-round opener vs. the Indiana Fever.

Story on the 89-73 WNBA playoffs loss for @reviewjournal ⬇️
lvrj.com/post/3463945

3 things to watch in Aces’ WNBA semifinals series vs. Indiana Fever The Aces and Indiana Fever clash at Michelob Ultra Arena on Sunday in the start of what’s sure to be an explosive WNBA playoffs semifinals matchup.

A'ja Wilson just posed on the court with her historic 4th MVP trophy, but now it's back to business. Game 1 of a new series!

3 things to watch in the Aces' 2nd-round matchup vs. the Indiana Fever:

Unfamiliarity on both sides, pace and physicality⬇️
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Aces star becomes 1st 4-time winner of WNBA’s MVP award Aces star center A’ja Wilson was named the WNBA MVP on Sunday, making her the first player in league history to win the award four times.

It’s official. Aces star A’ja Wilson is the first 4-time winner of WNBA’s MVP award.

More history for the 29-year-old in a decorated eight seasons.

It wasn’t really close, with Wilson winning 51 first-place votes from a panel of 72 media members.

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NEWS: A’ja Wilson gets her third Defensive Player of the Year award in unprecedented fashion.

She and Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith each received 29 votes for the first tie in the award’s history.

It's halftime, the Aces are up 20, and Crime Mob is performing. A'ja Wilson is somewhere smiling.

We're at the point where A'ja Wilson is drawing MVP chants every single time she visits the free throw line.

Q1: Aces 22, Storm 12

The Aces look locked in and their defense stands out. 4 blocks to Seattle's 0.

A'ja Wilson has 8 points and Jewell Loyd came off the bench to score 7 in a minute.

3 things to watch in Aces’ 1st-round WNBA playoffs series vs. Storm The Aces’ WNBA first-round playoff matchup against the Seattle Storm will pit Jewell Loyd against her former team and see a new series format.

The postseason is here! You could feel the anticipation in the air at Michelob Ultra Arena yesterday.

My primer for the Aces’ 1st-round WNBA playoffs series vs. the Seattle Storm ⬇️

lvrj.com/post/3448094 for @reviewjournal

‘The ideal sportsman’: Aces’ Loyd nominated for WNBA award in 1st season Jewell Loyd won’t be Sixth Player of the Year, but she could still be honored in her first year with the Aces.

One on the ballot that people never talk about: the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship award.

Wrote about Aces' nominee Jewell Loyd and her case as the "ideal sportsman."

Fitting that she's now set to face her former team, the Seattle Storm, in the WNBA playoffs.
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4th time’s the charm? Aces star now betting favorite for WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson hasn’t been the favorite for WNBA MVP most of the season. But she is now after helping the Aces win 15 straight games.

WNBA end-of-season award ballots were due this a.m.

A'ja Wilson entered the Aces' regular-season finale as the betting favorite to win an unprecedented 4th MVP, a reminder of how her dominance shifted the race⬇️
lvrj.com/post/3440336 for @reviewjournal

The WNBA all-time record for 3-pointers in a game, playoff and regular-season, is also held by the Aces. They recorded 23 vs. the Phoenix Mercury in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series in 2022. Chelsea Gray had 7 of those treys.

The Aces definitely went out with a bang. They set a new WNBA regular-season record for 3-pointers in a game with 22 against the Los Angeles Sparks while extending their win streak to 16 games, which is also league record for the longest to close a season.

Kierstan Bell is still OUT(lower right leg) for the Aces’ regular season finale vs. the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday. She’s the only person on the injury report.

Parker-Tyus provides spark in debut as Aces win 15th straight Veteran forward Cheyenne Parker- Tyus scored eight points in eight minutes in her Aces debut Tuesday against the Chicago Sky.

Veteran forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who signed with the Aces as a free agent this offseason and gave birth to her son Yoshua on July 1, had eight points in eight minutes in her first game with the team.

HALFTIME: Aces 43, Sky 35

It's positive that the Aces are shooting 53% from the floor and 50% from deep, but they don't have anyone scoring in double-figures and A'ja Wilson has only taken three field goal attempts.

Seeing Cheyenne Parker-Tyus check in for the Aces for the first time, just a few months removed from giving birth, then watching Jackie Young will that ball to her for her first bucket... that was special. Women are incredible.

Aces starters tonight vs. the Sky:

Aaliyah Nye
A’ja Wilson
NaLyssa Smith
Jackie Young
Chelsea Gray
 
The rookie from Alabama gets her first career start in the Aces’ final regular season home game.

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is in, NaLyssa Smith is in and Kierstan Bell is out tonight vs. the Sky, per Becky Hammon in her pregame presser.

Update here: The Aces have added Kierstan Bell to the injury report as QUESTIONABLE (lower right leg)

Aces status report for tomorrow vs. the Chicago Sky is in!

As most have seen by now, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is activated and available.

NaLyssa Smith is listed as questionable instead of out, but she’s still in concussion protocol.

3 takeaways from Aces’ win: Wilson sets record as streak hits 14 — PHOTOS A’ja Wilson scored 31 points and set a WNBA record as the Aces beat the Chicago Sky on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena for their 14th straight victory.

3 takeaways from Aces’ win: A’ja Wilson sets record as win streak hits 14 over Sky, Jackie Young not so silent and more for @reviewjournal ⬇️

lvrj.com/post/3439082

Sky suspend star for 1st half of Aces game for ‘detrimental’ comments Angel Reese will miss the first half of the Chicago Sky’s game against the Aces on Sunday after being suspended by her team.

ICYMI: The Sky suspended Angel Reese for half of tonight's game due to comments they deemed "detrimental" to the team.
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Angel Reese will not be taking the court against the Aces despite her suspension being up.

Sky PR announced at halftime that she's been ruled out, citing her back.

NEWS: NaLyssa Smith is OUT for tomorrow’s game against the Chicago Sky. She’s in concussion protocol after going down hard late in the 4th quarter of the Aces’ win over the Lynx on Thursday.

Aces security director more than A’ja Wilson’s bodyguard Aces security director Leon “Sonny” Watson has become family to star player A’ja Wilson, who says the 6-foot-8-inch former basketball player could take a “bullet for me.&#82...

NEW: When you see A’ja Wilson, you see him too.

My story on Leon “Sonny” Watson, the Aces’ beloved security director with a background that might surprise you.

lvrj.com/post/3438638 for @reviewjournal