Becky Hammon sends strong message to the rest of the WNBA about what her Aces are capable of

The current state of the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA doesn’t reflect their recent dominance in the league. Despite the criticism and the challenges they’re facing, Becky Hammon remains confident her team has everything it takes to turn things around — and they won’t be an easy obstacle to overcome.

The most critical moment came during that tough loss to the Indiana Fever — a game that sparked serious questions about what this team is truly made of. Still, veteran head coach knows they’re in the middle of shaping their identity, and she believes they’ll find a way to get there.

Now sitting at an even 9–9 record after their win over the Sun, the Aces face the major challenge of climbing back up the standings in the Western Conference.

“I think people take for granted how many new pieces we have, like we have to teach all over again,” said Hammon via ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. “It’s all brand new.”

Aari McDonald #2 of the Indiana Fever attempts a layup while being guarded by A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 03, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“It’s been a process. Every team goes at a different pace. And I think for me right now, you just continue to teach and continue to demand that effort.”

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Forging Las Vegas’ identity

While there’s still a long way to go in this season, the Aces continue searching for their true on-court identity — something that could elevate their level of play even further. And with that potential growth, it’s likely that opposing teams will be keeping an even closer eye on them.

“We’re still developing who we are, the identity of this team, but we’re getting there, you know, crawling. I would like to be walking or striding at this point, but as long as we’re moving in the right direction and I’m seeing progress, I’m happy with that,” WNBA legend Becky Hammon said.

She also added: “I think people like beating us. We’ve been pretty good in this league for the last few years, and people don’t forget that.”

The road ahead for the Aces

With the season at its midpoint, every game now carries more weight. The Aces will need to show consistency and resilience if they hope to regain their championship-caliber rhythm. Upcoming matchups will test both their depth and their evolving identity — a stretch that could define the tone for the rest of the season.

• vs New York Liberty, July 8th
• vs Washington Mystics, July 10th
• vs Golden State Valkyries, July 12th
• vs Dallas Wings, July 16th
• vs Atlanta Dream, July 22nd