The 2023 Las Vegas Aces season was the franchise's 27th season in the Women's National Basketball Association and the sixth year the franchise is based in Las Vegas - after relocating from San Antonio and Utah. This was also the second season under head coach Becky Hammon. They were the defending WNBA champions, after defeating the Connecticut Sun in the 2022 WNBA Finals.
The Aces largely kept their team intact after their championship season, only trading away Dearica Hamby, but signing former WNBA Champions Candace Parker and Alysha Clark in the offseason. This continuity proved positive in the first month of the season as the Aces went 4–0 in May. Their winning streak continued and went to seven games before they lost their first game of the season on June 8 to the Connecticut Sun. After the loss, they went on another seven game winning streak, and finished June 10–1. The winning streak continued into July, but ended on the third game of the month with a loss to Dallas. After the nine game winning streak, the Aces again won out in the month, finishing on a seven game winning streak, and finishing July with a 10–1 record. They managed to get their winning streak to eleven before losing to the New York Liberty on August 6. Their next loss would again come at the hands of New York, but this time it was in the Commissioner's Cup Final. The Aces defeated New York in the next regular season game, but would then lose to Los Angeles to end a four game regular season winning streak. The Aces won three of their next five games to finish August with an 8–4 record. During the month, they secured their playoff berth on August 2. They entered the final month of the season fighting with New York for the first seed. The Aces won all three games in September to secure the top seed on the last day of the season.
The Aces finished with a 34–6 regular season record, which was a franchise and WNBA record for number of wins. This was also the first season where the WNBA played 40 games. Their .850 winning percentage was a franchise record but not a WNBA record. The Aces finished as the first seed for the playoffs.
As the first seed, the Aces faced off against the eighth seed Chicago Sky and would host the first two games of the three game series. The Aces didn't lose a quarter in Game One and took the game 87–59. The Aces dominated Game Two in similar fashion, not losing a quarter, and winning the game 92–70 to move on to the Semifinals. In the Semifinals, the Aces faced off against the Dallas Wings. The Aces would host the first two games of the five game series, and game five, if necessary. The Aces dominated Game One, only losing the fourth quarter, but winning the game 97–83. Dallas managed to win two quarters in Game Two, but the Aces won the game 91–84. Game Three, was much closer in Dallas, but the Aces used a strong second half to win the game 64–61 and moved on to the 2023 WNBA Finals.
In the Finals, the Aces faced off against the second seed, New York Liberty. The teams faced each other five times during the regular season, going 2–2 against each other, but the Aces lost the Commissioner's Cup. The Aces used a strong second half to win Game One 99–82. In Game Two, they dominated the first quarter, and again dominated the second half to win 104–76. The Aces only needed to win one of the last three games to retain their title. The Liberty clawed one game back in New York, winning Game Three 87–73. In Game Four, the Aces, as they often had in the playoffs, had a strong second half, and won the game 70–69. The Aces became the first team since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002 to win back to back WNBA Championships, taking the Finals three games to one.
Transactions
WNBA draft
RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country 3 36 Brittney Davis Alabama
Transactions DateDetails January 21, 2023 Traded Dearica Hamby and a 2024 First-Round Pick to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for the negotiating rights to Amanda Zahui B and a 2024 Second-Round Pick February 1, 2023 Signed Candace Parker to a 1-Year Deal Signed Alysha Clark to a 2-Year Deal Signed Cayla George to a 1-Year Deal Signed Alexis Peterson and Courtney Range to Training Camp Contracts February 5, 2023 Traded the negotiating rights to Amanda Zahui B to the Washington Mystics for 2024 and 2025 Second-Round Picks February 6, 2023 Waived Iliana Rupert Signed Sydney Colson to a Training Camp Contract February 7. 2023 Signed Kiah Stokes to a 1-Year Deal April 12, 2023 Signed Elizabeth Balogun to a Training Camp Contract April 14, 2023 Signed Brittany Davis to a Rookie Scale Contract April 24, 2023 Waived Elizabeth Balogun May 9, 2023 Waived Aisha Sheppard, Courtney Range, and Brittany Davis May 15, 2023 Waived Alexis Peterson June 30, 2023 Signed A'ja Wilson to a Contract Extension July 19, 2023 Signed Ashley Joens to a 7-Day Contract July 26, 2023 Signed Ashley Joens to a 2nd 7-Day Contract August 6, 2023 Signed Alaina Coates to a 7-Day Contract August 10, 2023 Signed Alaina Coates to a 2nd 7-Day Contract August 16, 2023 Signed Alaina Coates to a 3rd 7-Day Contract August 23, 2023 Signed Alaina Coates to a Hardship Contract
Roster Changes
Additions
PersonnelSigned/TradeFormer team Amanda Zahui B Trade - January 21 Los Angeles Sparks Candace Parker February 1 Chicago Sky Alysha Clark February 1 Washington Mystics Cayla George February 1 Melbourne Boomers Alaina Coates August 2 Phoenix Mercury
Subtractions PersonnelReasonNew team Dearica Hamby Trade Los Angeles Sparks Amanda Zahui B Trade Washington Mystics Iliana Rupert Waived Atlanta Dream Aisha Sheppard Waived -
Roster
Depth chart Pos.StarterBench PG Chelsea Gray Sydney Colson SG Kelsey Plum Riquna Williams SF Jackie Young Alysha ClarkKierstan Bell PF Candace Parker Cayla George C A'ja Wilson Kiah Stokes
Schedule
Preseason
| 1 | May 13 | New York | W 84–77 | Kelsey Plum (22) | Chelsea Gray (8) | PetersonPlum (3) | Michelob Ultra Arena4,460 | 1–0
Regular season
| 1 | May 20 | @ Seattle | W 105–64 | PlumYoung (23) | A'ja Wilson (13) | Chelsea Gray (6) | Climate Pledge Arena11,229 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 25 | @ Los Angeles | W 94–85 | Jackie Young (30) | A'ja Wilson (13) | Chelsea Gray (8) | Crypto.com Arena7,314 | 2–0 |- | 3 | May 27 | Los Angeles | W 93–65 | A'ja Wilson (23) | Kiah Stokes (9) | Chelsea Gray (7) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,191 | 3–0 |- | 4 | May 28 | Minnesota | W 94–73 | Jackie Young (23) | Candace Parker (8) | Chelsea Gray (10) | Michelob Ultra Arena7,970 | 4–0
| 5 | June 2 | @ Atlanta | W 92–87 | A'ja Wilson (21) | Kiah Stokes (7) | Chelsea Gray (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,209 | 5–0 |- | 6 | June 4 | @ Indiana | W 84–80 | A'ja Wilson (27) | A'ja Wilson (10) | Chelsea Gray (7) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse6,131 | 6–0 |- | 7 | June 6 | @ Connecticut | W 90–84 | A'ja Wilson (23) | A'ja Wilson (10) | Chelsea Gray (7) | Mohegan Sun Arena4,368 | 7–0 |- | 8 | June 8 | @ Connecticut | L 77–94 | Kelsey Plum (16) | BellStokes (5) | A'ja Wilson (4) | Mohegan Sun Arena5,147 | 7–1 |- | 9 | June 11 | Chicago | W 93–80 | A'ja Wilson (21) | A'ja Wilson (10) | Candace Parker (7) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,786 | 8–1 |- | 10 | June 15 | Seattle | W 96–63 | Jackie Young (28) | A'ja Wilson (12) | Chelsea Gray (9) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,518 | 9–1 |- | 11 | June 18 | Minnesota | W 93–62 | Jackie Young (24) | A'ja Wilson (14) | GrayParker (5) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,036 | 10–1 |- | 12 | June 21 | @ Phoenix | W 99–79 | Jackie Young (23) | A'ja Wilson (12) | Chelsea Gray (8) | Footprint Center11,580 | 11–1 |- | 13 | June 24 | Indiana | W 101–88 | A'ja Wilson (28) | A'ja Wilson (10) | Chelsea Gray (12) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,310 | 12–1 |- | 14 | June 26 | Indiana | W 88–80 | Chelsea Gray (25) | Candace Parker (12) | Chelsea Gray (5) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,143 | 13–1 |- | 15 | June 29 | New York | W 98–81 | Kelsey Plum (18) | Candace Parker (6) | Kelsey Plum (8) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,587 | 14–1
| 16 | July 1 | Connecticut | W 102–84 | Kelsey Plum (25) | A'ja Wilson (13) | Candace Parker (8) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,596 | 15–1 |- | 17 | July 5 | Dallas | W 89–82 | Jackie Young (28) | A'ja Wilson (13) | Chelsea Gray (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,177 | 16–1 |- | 18 | July 7 | @ Dallas | L 78–80 | Kelsey Plum (21) | ParkerStokes (6) | Kelsey Plum (6) | College Park Center6,251 | 16–2 |- | 19 | July 9 | @ Minnesota | W 113–89 | Kelsey Plum (40) | A'ja Wilson (10) | Chelsea Gray (10) | Target Center7,701 | 17–2 |- | 20 | July 11 | Phoenix | W 98–72 | Jackie Young (23) | A'ja Wilson (8) | Chelsea Gray (11) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,281 | 18–2 |- | 21 | July 12 | @ Los Angeles | W 97–78 | A'ja Wilson (25) | A'ja Wilson (12) | GrayYoung (5) | Crypto.com Arena8,085 | 19–2 |- | 22 | July 20 | @ Seattle | W 79–63 | A'ja Wilson (23) | A'ja Wilson (15) | Chelsea Gray (8) | Climate Pledge Arena7,873 | 20–2 |- | 23 | July 22 | @ Minnesota | W 98–81 | A'ja Wilson (35) | A'ja Wilson (14) | Chelsea Gray (11) | Target Center7,801 | 21–2 |- | 24 | July 25 | @ Chicago | W 107–95 | Kelsey Plum (27) | Kiah Stokes (17) | Chelsea Gray (9) | Wintrust Arena9,025 | 22–2 |- | 25 | July 30 | Dallas | W 104–91 | Kelsey Plum (28) | A'ja Wilson (7) | Chelsea Gray (8) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,213 | 23–2
| 26 | August 1 | Atlanta | W 93–72 | Jackie Young (24) | A'ja Wilson (11) | Chelsea Gray (7) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,366 | 24–2 |- | 27 | August 6 | @ New York | L 61–99 | Jackie Young (16) | A'ja Wilson (7) | Chelsea Gray (6) | Barclays Center11,418 | 24–3 |- | 28 | August 8 | @ Dallas | W 104–84 | A'ja Wilson (28) | A'ja Wilson (14) | Kelsey Plum (8) | College Park Center5,193 | 25–3 |- | 29 | August 11 | Washington | W 113–89 | A'ja Wilson (40) | A'ja Wilson (12) | GrayPlum (10) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,364 | 26–3 |- | 30 | August 13 | Atlanta | W 86–65 | A'ja Wilson (21) | Kiah Stokes (12) | Chelsea Gray (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,564 | 27–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | Commissioner's Cup Final | August 15 | New York | L 63–82 | Jackie Young (16) | GrayStokes (6) | Kelsey Plum (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,967 | — |- | 31 | August 17 | New York | W 88–75 | Chelsea Gray (22) | Chelsea Gray (11) | Chelsea Gray (11) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,230 | 28–3 |- | 32 | August 19 | Los Angeles | L 72–78 | A'ja Wilson (25) | A'ja Wilson (9) | Chelsea Gray (7) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,348 | 28–4 |- | 33 | August 22 | @ Atlanta | W 112–100 | A'ja Wilson (53) | Chelsea Gray (9) | Chelsea Gray (12) | Gateway Center Arena3,209 | 29–4 |- | 34 | August 24 | @ Chicago | W 94–87 | Jackie Young (24) | WilsonYoung (10) | Chelsea Gray (10) | Wintrust Arena8,084 | 30–4 |- | 35 | August 26 | @ Washington | L 62–78 | Kelsey Plum (21) | A'ja Wilson (11) | Chelsea Gray (4) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,200 | 30–5 |- | 36 | August 28 | @ New York | L 85–94 | Jackie Young (24) | A'ja Wilson (8) | Chelsea Gray (9) | Barclays Center11,615 | 30–6 |- | 37 | August 31 | Washington | W 84–75 | A'ja Wilson (26) | A'ja Wilson (11) | Kelsey Plum (10) | Michelob Ultra Arena8,619 | 31–6
| 38 | September 2 | Seattle | W 103–77 | A'ja Wilson (30) | Kiah Stokes (11) | Chelsea Gray (9) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,319 | 32–6 |- | 39 | September 8 | @ Phoenix | W 94–73 | A'ja Wilson (30) | A'ja Wilson (9) | Chelsea Gray (12) | Footprint Center13,206 | 33–6 |- | 40 | September 10 | Phoenix | W 100–85 | A'ja Wilson (36) | A'ja Wilson (8) | Chelsea Gray (8) | T-Mobile Arena17,406 | 34–6
Playoffs
| 1 | September 13 | Chicago | W 87–59 | Chelsea Gray (20) | Kiah Stokes (15) | Chelsea Gray (7) | T-Mobile Arena 12,927 | 1–0 |- | 2 | September 17 | Chicago | W 92–70 | A'ja Wilson (38) | A'ja Wilson (16) | Chelsea Gray (9) | Michelob Ultra Arena 9,000 | 2–0
| 1 | September 24 | Dallas | W 97–83 | A'ja Wilson (34) | Jackie Young (10) | Jackie Young (7) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,784 | 1–0 |- | 2 | September 26 | Dallas | W 91–84 | A'ja Wilson (30) | A'ja Wilson (11) | Chelsea Gray (8) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,286 | 2–0 |- | 3 | September 29 | @ Dallas | W 64–61