Las Vegas Coach Joins the Ranks of WNBA’s All-Time Greats With Third Title in Four Years
The Las Vegas Aces celebrated their latest triumph with a championship parade last Friday, a sight that seemed improbable just months ago. At the center of it all is head coach Becky Hammon, who has once again proven why she’s one of the sharpest minds in basketball.
By leading the Aces to their third WNBA championship in four seasons, Hammon has solidified her place among the league’s coaching elite. Her three titles put her just behind Van Chancellor’s and Cheryl Reeve’s record four apiece, and tie her with former Aces coach Bill Laimbeer.
When it comes to winning under pressure, Hammon’s record speaks for itself: she’s 10-2 in WNBA Finals games and 9-1 in playoff series even better than Phil Jackson’s famed NBA postseason rate.
“The thing I always trust, we’re not going to get outcoached,” said guard Jewell Loyd.
Outthinking the Competition
That reputation was earned during this year’s Finals, where Hammon’s game management and adaptability defined the Aces’ success. In Game 1 against the Phoenix Mercury, she stunned everyone by switching to a zone defense midgame, a tactic her team hadn’t even practiced. The surprise threw Phoenix off balance, and Las Vegas rallied to win.
Her quick-thinking substitutions sealed the deal, too. Kiah Stokes, who had played just 14 seconds all night, entered for the final possession to shut down the Mercury’s last shot attempt.
“She’s like the queen of adjustments,” said point guard Chelsea Gray. “She’s got so many tricks and philosophies and different things that she can do in the playoffs and in a series. I’ll take us in a series any day.”
The Psychology of a Champion
Hammon insists strategy is only a small part of coaching. The real challenge, she says, is managing personalities and knowing what her team needs fire, confidence, discipline, or even a hug.
Her ability to strike that balance was tested this year when the Aces hit rock bottom. At one point, they were a mediocre 14-14, fresh off a humiliating 53-point home loss — the worst in WNBA history. But instead of imploding, Hammon and her players regrouped. They ripped off a 16-game winning streak to close the season and charged through the playoffs.
“This season had less to do with ‘Xs and Os’ and more to do with what 90% of coaching is — managing people,” Hammon said. “It was about reading the room and giving the team what they needed from me.”
A Bond Beyond Basketball
Hammon’s relationship with her players, built on trust and collaboration, proved just as crucial as her tactical genius. Core stars A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young knew she could push them because her criticism came from belief, not ego.
That trust deepened as Hammon invited players into the game-planning process. Wilson, the team’s four-time MVP, became a vocal partner in designing plays.
“Becky’s heart and her mind about the game, it’s always about the next person,” Wilson said. “Our motto this year was ‘others.’ For Becky to instill that trust in us, it didn’t come by any surprise.”
It’s a relationship rooted in history, too. Hammon’s jersey still hangs in the rafters of the Aces’ home arena from her days as a San Antonio Stars legend before the franchise relocated to Las Vegas.
A Legacy Still in Motion
Since team owner Mark Davis made her the first $1 million-per-year coach in WNBA history in 2022, the results have been undeniable. Three titles in four years. A dynasty reborn.
But Hammon, ever pragmatic, has no interest in debating her place in history.
“I never want to get stagnant and not have growth,” she said. “I just try to be my best version of myself and the best coach I can be for the players I’m leading.”
With another championship parade on the horizon and a locker room that believes in her philosophy, Hammon’s legacy isn’t finished, it’s still unfolding, one smart adjustment and one banner at a time.
