• Here is the source link - https://www.threads.com/share/IIsjX7Q92/

by Kelly Johnson

Las Vegas Aces president and general manager Nikki Fargas can breathe a sigh of relief as she looks ahead to the offseason.

With a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) now in place, the time frame for teams to make decisions will be much longer than it was a year ago, when CBA negotiations came down to the wire. This means Fargas and other decision-makers around the league will have much more opportunity for player evaluation.

“I think this offseason obviously is not just about how do we strengthen our roster [and] how do we get better, but it’s also about maintaining excellence,” Fargas told The IX Sports Friday afternoon. “And so with the additional time, the evaluation process is extended, as well as allowing your players and those who are contracted to come back.”

The Aces are looking to make offseason moves that will help them win another championship. After winning titles in 2022, 2023 and 2025, they were eliminated by the Golden State Valkyries in the 2026 semifinals.

Guard Jackie Young is an unrestricted free agent, meaning that she can sign with any team once free agency opens. But the Aces will look to re-sign her, as she’s been a critical part of their core, alongside reigning five-time MVP A’ja Wilson and star point guard Chelsea Gray.

“Jackie Young is one of one,” Fargas said. “She definitely has placed and etched her mark. … When we start to tell the story of winning championships, you have to talk about Jackie Young. So she will always be a priority for the Las Vegas Aces, and we hope to continue to compete for more championships with Jackie Young on the roster.”

Young is coming off of a career year in which she averaged 18.9 points per game. She scored a career-high 35 points against the Seattle Storm in September, including 22 points in the first quarter alone.

Young also averaged a career-high 6.8 assists per game, making passes similar to Gray’s. And she ended the season averaging 4.4 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.

“Jackie Young is one of the best two-way players in the game, and she’s someone who has been so instrumental to the overall success of our organization,” Fargas said. “She’s someone who obviously can play multiple positions. She’s commanding different defensive schemes. She’s a lockdown defender. She typically has that defensive assignment, while also asking her or putting her in a position to also be one of the best offensive threats on the floor. …

“She’s able to shoot the three-ball. She takes advantage of the defenders when there’s opportunities for her to create space. She does a really nice job of that. Then her midrange game is one that she can play through contact, and then obviously, her ability to get downhill.”

Young isn’t the only big name in this year’s free agency class. Other major names include Kelsey Mitchell (who played the 2026 season with the Indiana Fever), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Kayla Thornton (Golden State Valkyries) and former Aces guard Kelsey Plum (Phoenix Mercury).

In the past, the Aces have signed big names and they’ve become critical to the team. One of those players was Gray, who signed with the Aces in 2021. Another was Candace Parker, who signed for the 2023 season and helped the Aces win a championship before retiring in 2024.

“From a basketball perspective, [Collier and Mitchell] also bring star power,” Fargas said. “They bring offensive production. They bring defensive versatility. … These women have proven that they’re not only the best here in the [United] States, but you got some who have shown that they’re the best in the world.”

When evaluating what the Aces need this offseason, Fargas highlighted that they need to find the right pieces to complement their core. Last season, the bench averaged 21.5 points per game, which ranked eighth in the WNBA, but the team’s depth was inconsistent.

Throughout the season, Las Vegas heavily prioritized defense, including by signing defensive specialist Brianna Turner at the beginning of the season. And when forward NaLyssa Smith suffered a season-ending injury before the FIBA World Cup break, the team signed 6’7 center Kalani Brown to fill her role.

“I think we gotta always think about, ‘How can we complement what we have and who we have returning?’” Fargas said. “Obviously, the centerpiece is A’ja Wilson. So how do we complement her scoring, her defensive presence, having someone who can be a playmaker to create more space for her and for our guard play? …

“[Defensively,] we’re going to have to compete against the league’s best offensive players, and this league offensively has some really, really tough players that it becomes challenging to keep them in front of you.”

The bench struggled in the postseason, with only three reserves scoring in the series against the Valkyries: Brown, forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and guard Dana Evans. Other players, like guard Mai Yamamoto, struggled to get points on the board but still made an impact.

Throughout the regular season, names floated in and out due to injuries and players getting waived. After guard Chennedy Carter was waived toward the beginning of the season, the Aces brought in guard/forward Justine Pissott from the Indiana Fever. They also signed Yamamoto soon afterward. Rookie forward Janiah Barker went down with injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season in mid-July.

Toward the end of the season, the Aces also brought in Ta’Niya Latson as a developmental player. In a key game against the New York Liberty on Aug. 9, Latson dropped 20 points coming off the bench.

This offseason, the Aces have eight players who will be unrestricted free agents. Alongside Young, Turner, Smith, Parker-Tyus, Yamamoto, Brown, starting forward Stephanie Talbot and reserve forward Kierstan Bell will all be able to sign with any team. In addition, Pissott will be a reserved player, meaning that if the Aces extend her a qualifying offer, she will only be able to negotiate with them. As a developmental player, Latson will also be eligible to receive a reserved qualifying offer.

With depth being an issue this year, the offseason will allow Fargas and head coach Becky Hammon to determine their requirements for the bench and who best meets those requirements. All cards are on the table for the Aces, and for Fargas, Hammon and the staff, it’s a matter of playing them right.

https://www.theixsports.com/the-ix-basketball-newsroom/wnba/las-vegas-aces/offseason-outlook-las-vegas-aces-nikki-fargas-interview-wnba/

Has anyone seen anything about the shortlist of who the Sparks are looking at for their new head coach? I haven’t seen anything so far, but I feel like we typically would’ve heard something by now even if it was just a list of who they were interviewing.

2026 has been a volatile year for the W. Even as they reach unprecedented heights, the league’s hierarchy has had to deal with working out a new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) and handle the highly controversial debate surrounding trans athletes.

Engelbert has been at the receiving end of hate from lots of fans and analysts alike, which may inform some of the advice she is passing on to her successor.

“The good news is there’s people who really want to take on this role, which I think is great. It’s a multidimensional role. You have to have very thick skin,” Engelbert said during her final press conference as the top boss of the WNBA.

“You have to have confidence that we can continue this growth trajectory and confidence in building relationships with players and agents and the Board of Governors, the owners and the stakeholders.”

https://www.hitc.com/cathy-engelbert-issues-a-warning-to-next-wnba-commissioner-in-her-last-press-conference/

Summary: Golden State wins the even-numbered quarters and takes Game 1 of the Finals over Atlanta, 68-84. Gabby Williams led all scorers with 26pts and Kiah Stokes had 9pts 7reb 4blk. Allisha Gray led the Dream with 19pts 6reb, and Angel Reese added 14pts 12reb 2stl in the loss.

Vs Golden state Valkaries: 3-14; 6-15; 2-16; 5-11
13 ppg on 28% 24% from 3

Vs Las Vegas Aces: 7-13 7-19
20 ppg on 43% 33% from 3

Vs Indiana Fever: 6-15; 6-12; 4-13; 2-9
16 ppg on 36% 30.8%

Vs New York Liberty: 7-21; 5-20; 5-20; 4-12; 6-16; 7-18
17 ppg on 31% 28% from 3

Vs Washington Mystics: 4-8; 4-8; 6-18; 7-18; 8-20
20 ppg on 41% 43% from 3

Vs Minnesota Lynx: 4-14; 4-10;6-16
13 ppg on 35% 29% from 3

Vs Dallas Wings 7-12; 3-10 3-14
16 ppg on 35% 29% from 3

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Pretty cool!

As former Dream players, Amihere and Hayes know Rhyne, Naz, and Allisha. They know what goes on in the Dream locker room, where Rhyne is the franchise player and the Dream's entire season, identity, and every game revolves around Rhyne.

Amihere and Hayes know how and why the Dream lost in the playoffs and lose in general.

Amihere and Hayes are sharing that inside knowledge to help the Valkyries beat the Dream (as they should).

Know your personnel.

Watch the press conference clip: “Job’s Not Done” — Nakase Reflects on the Valkyries’ Finals Berth in Year Two

(Specifically around the 6:30 to 7:15 mark, Nakase talks about how Kiah Stokes and Tip Hayes provided invaluable insight from their time in the Aces' locker room and how Stokes led the huddles during timeouts because she was so confident in predicting what Las Vegas would do).

The Las Vegas Aces group was:

2021: Stokes (#11), Wilson (#1), Young (#1), Gray (#11)

2022: Stokes (#11), Wilson (#1), Young (#1), Gray (#11)

2023: Stokes (#11), Wilson (#1), Young (#1), Gray (#11)

2024: Stokes (#11), Hayes (#14), Wilson (#1), Young (#1), Gray (#11)

2025: Stokes (#11), Wilson (#1), Young (#1), Gray (#11)

Head coach: Becky Hammon (2022–2025).

The Atlanta Dream group was:

2022: Howard (#1), Hayes (#14), Hillmon (#25)

2023: Howard (#1), Hillmon (#25), Amihere (#8), Gray (#4)

2024: Howard (#1), Hillmon (#25), Amihere (#8), Gray (#4)

What bingo squares would you add?

Oh wow did NOT expect this news!

Don’t know if anyone has been watching any of the WNBL which started the week on YouTube but watched a game on Thursday (Jewels first game worth checking out on replay if just for fun half time chats with Lauren Jackson and Alanna Smith) and now watching Perth Lynx and Georgia Amoore now.

The entire live chat is just gambling chat. Like literally no chat about the game at all just people, mostly men, talking about hedge bets and lines to bet and then shitting on the players when they aren’t getting them their money.

I know it happens in the W too but it’s not as extremely obvious and depressing with the WNBL that it is literally all anyone’s talking about, especially when the game has been really good. Mystics fans you should be pumped about Amoore, she is gonna be so good.

We’ve seen a bunch of players in the W and the MNBA too say the abuse they get from gamblers because they miss a FT or something and it’s just so gross.

You’re never gonna separate sports from gambling but these WNBL games have just been so offensive. Last I looked 800 comments and I would say 750 of those are gambling relating.

Edit: Added context of games

This was just too cute so I had to share. The peacock crew caught recreating their viral ratata TikTok!

https://www.threads.com/share/_wIylnptA/

You don’t thrive in other areas

Kiah stokes is not an offensive factor but she brings other factors rim protection, rebounding, physicality, etc

Naz hillmon is a good defender but there is nothing else in her game that justifies her playing 30 minutes.

She’s not blocking a bunch of shots, shes only giving you 4 rebounds in 32.5 minutes and offensively it feels like you’re playing 4v5 on offense because she’s not skilled enough offensively to make a difference.

GS is putting very intense pressure on Angel, rhyne and lish because naz isn’t a factor.

I’m not saying she’s the reason we lost obviously the jacking 3s was

but this GS team is just too good defensively to have to carry her weight on offense.

I think if we don’t play Bonner or Okot soon we are in danger of being swept

Atlanta Dream Finals Anthem

yahoosports The family connections run deep in the WNBA Finals 🧬🏀
https://www.instagram.com/p/DekK1dYFfw_/

• Love seeing these connections 🥰

EDIT: Forgot the pic for Janelle Salaun. Please see below.

Every fan has opinions. Let’s hear yours! Answer all 10 or pick the questions you have the strongest takes on—and make your case.

1. Who has the best on court celebrations?

2. Who talks the most trash, and backs it up?

3. Who is most likely to get under an opponent’s skin?

4. Who has the most entertaining reactions from the bench?

5. Who is the biggest instigator on the court?

6. Who is the most dramatic when a call doesn’t go their way?

7. Who is the most reckless player in the WNBA?

8. Who is most likely to take a shot that makes you yell, “Why?!”

9. Who would you trust most to hit a game-winning shot?

10. Which player is the most frustrating to watch, even when they’re on your team?

Player and team trash talk is welcome, but personal attacks, name-calling, and/or disrespect toward other users aren’t. Bring examples, debate respectfully

Thought this was interesting given ESPN’s role and how many of us on the thread don’t like seeing the sports gambling commercials.

I realize there are gamblers among us and who I am to judge 🤷🏻‍♀️

But there is rare discussion of critical perspectives of sports gambling by athletes, commentators or key networks.

Are WNBA "all in one" advanced stats listed anywhere; like EPM, DARKO, LEBRON et al for the MNBA?

Long time coming. Glad for her and to be able to tune out the fakes. She seems rested and ready for game 1.

What a roster. Still insane to me they couldn’t pull it off, I’d argue they’re much better than any of the Liberty’s “superteam” rosters since 2023.

The players I caught in the commercial are:

• Diana Taurausi
• Dawn Staley
• Kara Lawson
• Cynthia Copper
• Swin Cash
• Tamika Catchings
• Lisa Leslie
• Katie Smith
• Alana Beard
• Sheryl Swoops
• Sue Bird

https://www.threads.com/share/FLPbKAzKW/