Tag: Las Vegas Aces

WNBA draft pick Nika Mühl headlines 2024 Kelsey Plum Dawg Class

Plum’s initiative with Under Armour was started in 2023 and helps ease the transition from college basketball to the pros.

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum announced her 2024 Dawg Class, an initiative with Under Armour started in 2023 to “help ease the transition from college basketball to the pros.”

The second cohort of athletes includes players Plum believes have a tough mentality on the court and deserve a shot to be mentored by her. Some of the players were drafted in the 2024 WNBA draft and some are still in college and not yet eligible to declare for the draft. Plum believes this mix provides a great atmosphere for all players to grow in their journeys.

The players selected to the 2024 Dawg Class:

  1. MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
  2. Raven Johnson, South Carolina
  3. Deja Kelly, North Carolina
  4. Saniya Rivers, NC State
  5. Dyaisha Fair, Aces
  6. Aziaha James, NC State
  7. KK Arnold, UConn
  8. Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
  9. Nika Mühl, Seattle Storm
  10. Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
  11. Aneesah Morrow, LSU
  12. Shyanne Sellers, Maryland

“The Dawg Class with Under Armour will bridge the gap between college and the professional game,” Plum said when she launched the program last spring. “It’s difficult to jump to the next level and I didn’t have anyone helping me navigate the unknown. I want to pass on the knowledge that I’ve gained and the resources available to me now to young women who are about to take that next step.”

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The inaugural 2023 class included Azzi Fudd, Deja Kelly, Diamond Miller, Georgia Amoore, Gianna Kneepkens, Hailey Van Lith, KK Bransford, Raven Johnson and Rori Harmon.

A few players were invited to attend again this season, with Amoore, Johnson and Kelly being repeat dawgs.

The three-day camp will take place at the IMG Academy in Florida in April.

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Las Vegas Aces earn high marks from ESPN for drafting Kate Martin

Kate Martin has the “it” factor. It is hard to describe, but she has it. That has helped earn the Aces’ draft selection high marks.

When you are the two-time defending champions, you have the luxury of going after players that may be hidden during the draft process in an effort to find someone unsuspecting.

The Las Vegas Aces appear to have done that as they selected Kate Martin in the second round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. The Iowa guard joins Caitlin Clark as the two Hawkeyes that heard their names called.

The women’s basketball world and Iowa fans lit up when Martin heard her name called as she has become a fan favorite for her hard-nosed, gritty, tough play she always showed in big moments. This sort of mentality and toughness has helped the Aces earn high marks from ESPN for their selection of Kate Martin.

The two-time defending WNBA champions don’t have any obvious needs, and it’s possible none of these players makes the team, because it’s so hard to do.

But in Fair and Martin, the Aces took two different kinds of underdogs: Fair because of her 5-foot-5 size and Martin because she doesn’t really have an obvious position she fits into as a pro. But they’re both accustomed to being underestimated and proving people wrong. – Michael Voepel, ESPN

Kate Martin played guard for the Hawkeyes but she was often found in the paint unafraid to get physical for rebounds, defense, and loose balls. She has a three-point shot as her last two season at Iowa saw her hit 39.2% from behind the arc.

Martin likely faces an uphill battle to make the roster but that is something she welcomes. The gritty guard welcomes the challenge and if there is anyone who can steal a roster spot, Kate Martin is ready for the challenge.

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Las Vegas Aces select Iowa star Kate Martin in 2024 WNBA draft

The Glue is headed to the WNBA.

The Glue is headed to the WNBA.

Iowa star guard Kate Martin was selected by the two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces with the 18th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 WNBA draft.

Martin averaged career highs in points (13.1) and rebounds (6.8) this past season as she operated as Caitlin Clark’s leading backcourt running mate en route to another Final Four and national championship game appearance.

The 6-foot graduate guard shot 50.7% from the field, 37.0% from 3-point range and 86.4% from the free throw line this past season with the Hawkeyes. Martin also averaged 2.3 assists per game.

“Man, a lot of emotions,” Martin said to ESPN’s Holly Rowe on the WNBA draft broadcast. “I’m really happy to be here. I was here to support Caitlin. But, you know, I was hoping to hear my name called and all I wanted was an opportunity and I got it. So I’m really excited.”

Martin hopes to showcase her versatility at the next level with the Aces.

“Yeah, I’m super excited for the opportunity. You know, I have a really good work ethic. But more than anything, I think I’m a very versatile player. I can score multiple levels and I can guard multiple positions, but I’m really excited to get there and I know I’m gonna give it all I got,” Martin said.

With Martin’s selection by the Las Vegas Aces, Iowa has now had five Hawkeyes selected into the WNBA since 2019. Martin joins Kathleen Doyle, Megan Gustafson, Monika Czinano, and, of course, this year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caitlin Clark.

Nineteen Hawkeyes have been drafted or signed in the WNBA since the league originated in 1997. This marks the first time since 1998 that two Hawkeyes have been drafted in the same year.

Martin will join forces with Gustafson as fellow Hawkeyes on the Aces’ roster.

The Edwardsville, Ill., native just capped a historic chapter with the Hawkeyes. Individually, Martin is the only player in Iowa history to have amassed 900 or more points, 500 or more rebounds, 400 or more assists, 120 or more steals, and 60 or more blocks in a career.

Martin joins Clark and Sam Logic as the third Hawkeye in school history to net 1,200-plus points, 700-plus rebounds, and 450-plus assists.

“I’m so proud of Kate because her dreams came true. She has been such a big part of our program over the last six years. Her efforts did not go unnoticed by her peers. I wish Kate all the success with this next step,” Iowa head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder said.

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Candace Parker hilariously called Aces teammate A’Ja Wilson on Facetime to celebrate Tennessee right before South Carolina’s epic buzzer-beater

Celebrated too soon!

The South Carolina women’s basketball team refused to lose on Saturday, as Kamilla Cardoso scored her first 3-pointer of the season to top Tennessee at the buzzer.

The heroic bucket from Cardoso kept South Carolina’s undefeated season alive and sent the Lady Vols home with a devastating defeat.

The last-second South Carolina victory also caught Tennessee great and current Las Vegas Aces forward Candace Parker off-guard as she Facetimed with her teammate, a former South Carolina standout.

Wilson posted on Twitter (X) a screenshot of the two talking on Facetime, as she said that Parker called Wilson thinking the game was over only to realize it most certainly was not after Cardoso’s shot.

It’s never a good idea to celebrate until the final buzzer, especially in a sport like basketball where so much can change with one bucket.

Parker probably won’t hear the end of this for quite some time, as Wilson both got a big victory for her alma mater and a good laugh out of Parker’s confident Facetime call.

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Las Vegas Aces re-sign multiple championship players during free agency

The two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are retaining a solid roster heading into the upcoming season.

The two-time WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces are retaining a solid roster heading into the upcoming season. The most recent re-signing during free agency is three-time champion and two-time MVP Candace Parker.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to play the game I love while competing alongside my teammates and coaches,” said Parker. My family and I are excited to be back in Las Vegas and ready for another great season.”

Parker started the first 18 games of the 2023 season for the Aces and averaged nine points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals a game before undergoing surgery on her left foot and being sidelined the remainder of the season. The Aces won the championship in 2023, and with that, Parker became the first player in WNBA history to win a championship with three different teams: Los Angeles Sparks (2016) and Chicago Sky (2021).

The Aces also re-signed two-time champion Sydney Colson.

“We are excited to have the face of the league, Sydney Colson, back in our Aces camp,” said general manager Natalie Williams. “There is only light and laughter when she is around. Sydney practices and competes with intensity every day, she is a true pro. We look forward to having her leadership and fun back in camp.”

The Aces re-signed another two-time champion in center Kiah Stokes, who averaged 2.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 86 games over the past 2 1/2 seasons with the Aces.

“I’m really excited to be coming back to Vegas,” said Stokes. “It feels like I’ve found a home here and I like what we’re building. Let’s go Aces!”

Suffice it to say, the Aces are looking to make another championship run in the 2024 season with their roster intact. The Aces’ first game is May 14 against the Phoenix Mercury.

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Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball announces third season will begin in February

Athletes Unlimited is a professional, domestic league boasting Olympians, WNBA champions and All-Stars.

Athletes Unlimited is a professional domestic league boasting Olympians, WNBA champions and all-stars. The third season takes place from Feb. 29-March 23, 2024, with all games being played at Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas, Texas.

Twenty-two players have signed contracts for the 2024 season, including two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry, former South Carolina standouts Tiffany Mitchell (Minnesota Lynx), Zia Cooke (Los Angeles Sparks) and Laeticia Amihere (Atlanta Dream) and recent top WNBA draft picks Queen Egbo (Washington Mystics) and Maddy Siegrist (Dallas Wings).

“We are thrilled to tip off Season 3 of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball with such an exciting roster featuring elite talent from across the women’s basketball landscape, and to be back in Dallas, a hotbed of basketball talent and culture,” said Megan Perry, Director of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited. “Fans will be treated to an exciting brand of basketball as these athletes compete to be crowned the champion.”

The players compete under a point system where players and teams are rewarded for individual and team performance. Each week, the four highest-ranked players are appointed captains and redraft teams for the following week’s competition. This not only allows fans to see different matchups each week, but it also allows the players to get a feel for different schemes and teammates.

Many athletes are returning for another season of Athletes Unlimited, including Sydney Colson and Kierstan Bell, members of the 2023 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces; Lexie Brown (Los Angeles Sparks); Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream); Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever); and Odyssey Sims (Dallas Wings).

“I’m super excited to be part of Season 3,” said Brown, who chairs the AU pro basketball player executive committee. “Taking on the role of chairperson of the player executive committee has been a really fun experience for me so far and will continue to prepare me for my future goals in front office work. AU Pro Basketball will be the first time I’ve been on the court since July and I can’t wait to compete with and against the amazing players we have on the roster. I can’t say enough how grateful I am to have an opportunity to play in the off-season domestically.”

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Knicks fans have a new top-tier nickname for Jalen Brunson after recent criticisms about his game

Many fans, including Ben Stiller, are calling Jalen Brunson by a new nickname.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was recently the subject of debate when Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon spoke about his potential.

Hammon and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins went back and forth about whether or not Brunson was capable of playing like the best player on the best team in the league.

There is no doubt that Brunson is playing at an elite level right now and he has now scored 30 or more points in eight games so far this season. That now includes a very impressive 36-point performance on Christmas Day during a victory over the Bucks, led by two-time MVP and former NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Despite his accomplishes, though, there are concerns. As a former small guard herself, and as an experienced basketball coach, Hammon wondered if someone his size could lead his team to win a title in the NBA.

We don’t know if Hammon’s criticism of Brunson’s limitations is accurate and we won’t know until we see if he can keep this success for the Knicks in the postseason.

But some fans and teammates are latching on to one of the phrases used in the ESPN debate about whether or not Brunson could become a “1A” player. It seems that his teammates, including Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, think he is already there.

RELATED: Becky Hammon shouldn’t have to shrink herself for the comfort of basketball fans

A’ja Wilson feels like South Carolina guard Raven Johnson will be a star

Aces center A’ja Wilson believes South Carolina guard Raven Johnson has bright future in basketball.

Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP and two-time champion, joined Showtime Basketball’s weekly podcast series “All the Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. She discussed the WNBA, NIL and which college players she sees transitioning to the league from college.

Wilson was asked which player in the women’s collegiate basketball landscape has a bright future and after thinking for a few seconds, she said South Carolina guard Raven Johnson.

“I’m going to be obviously biased with my Gamecocks, (so) I would say Raven (Johnson),” Wilson said. “I’m not just saying this because she’s South Carolina (but) you’re being taught by Dawn Staley at the point guard position. I feel like you don’t get a better situation than that and I think her being disrespected in the Final Four last year kind of woke her up in a sense that’s like, ‘Oh, bet. Like cool, this is what y’all are going to say?’ … I feel like she is going to be a star.”

Johnson is a sophomore at South Carolina, but has already played in the Final Four, was voted onto the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2023 and was the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in 2021.

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WNBA introduces new format for 2024 Commissioner’s Cup

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, an in-season competition launched in 2021, will have a new format for the 2024 season.

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, an in-season competition launched in 2021, will have a new format for the 2024 season. Instead of 10 games counting toward selection into the tournament, teams will each play just five games during the two-week period from June 1-13, one against each of its in-conference rivals.

“After crowning three Commissioner’s Cup champions since 2021, we believe it is time to introduce a new, streamlined format for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The newly designed, concentrated structure for this in-season tournament adds an increased sense of urgency and excitement as we place a particular spotlight on Eastern and Western Conference Commissioner’s Cup play in a two-week window near the tip off of our regular season. The focus is on making the Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase even more engaging for all our stakeholders, including fans, teams, players and the community organizations that collaborate with our teams during the designated games.”

The inaugural Commissioner’s Cup was won by the Seattle Storm in 2021 (Breanna Stewart, MVP). The Las Vegas Aces won in 2022 (Chelsea Gray, MVP). This past season, the New York Liberty (Jonquel Jones, MVP) took home the Commissioner’s Cup.

The team from each conference with the top record in Commissioner’s Cup games will compete for a $500,000 prize pool in the Commissioner’s Cup championship. The championship game will be played on June 25 at the arena of the team with the best record in Cup play.

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3-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray joins Kings broadcast team

Gray is also a current ACC Network college basketball analyst for the 2023-2024 season.

Three-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray adds another role to her ever-expanding résumé, joining the Sacramento Kings broadcast team as a pre and postgame analyst. She joins hosts Kyle Draper and Morgan Ragan and analysts Matt Barnes and Mike Bibby on NBC Sports California for the remainder of the 2023-24 NBA season.

Gray won back-to-back WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023 while also snagging a championship in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks. She is an Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star, among many other accolades.

This will not be her first foray into basketball analysis. She is a current ACC Network (ACCN) college basketball analyst for the 2023-2024 season. Gray isn’t the only Aces team member analyzing the game this season. Candace Parker works for Turner Sports as a basketball analyst and even head coach Becky Hammon is an ESPN analyst.

In addition to her analyst role, it was announced earlier this year that Gray will be a founding member of a new professional basketball league in the United States. Unrivaled was founded by New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. The league will run from January through March and “feature 30 of the top professional women’s players on six teams, playing games of 3-on-3 and 1-on-1 at a soundstage in Miami.”

The offseason is shaping up to be quite busy for Gray, but there isn’t a true offseason in women’s basketball. So, instead, she joins numerous other players who head to their secondary or tertiary jobs when the WNBA season ends.

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