Becky Hammon Had Strong Words After Demoting Six-Time WNBA All-Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Las Vegas Aces continued their late-season surge with a convincing 106-87 win over the Dallas Wings, marking their seventh victory in the last eight games. A’ja Wilson led the way with another dominant 34-point performance, while Kierstan Bell (18 points) and NaLyssa Smith (14 points) rounded out Las Vegas’ top scorers list.
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The Aces look like one of the league’s most dangerous teams as the playoffs approach, but the turnaround has come with significant roster adjustments. While the team continues to progress, some of its biggest stars have been underperforming, leading to major roster adjustments by head coach Becky Hammon.
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Aces Coach Becky Hammon Explains Bold Decision
Chief among the big changes has been the demotion of six-time WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd to the bench. Loyd, who set a single-season mark for scoring two seasons ago with the Seattle Storm, was traded to the Aces in January but has struggled to find her rhythm this season. The two-time WNBA champion was limited to single digits in six of 11 games in July while shooting just 33.6 percent.
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In a bid to fix her struggles, Hammon experimented with different lineup combinations, but nothing seemed to work.
Loyd herself suggested a shift to the bench, though Hammon admitted she was initially reluctant. The breaking point came after a scoreless outing in a July 25 loss, when Loyd insisted on the change.
“I didn’t want her to feel like I was giving up on her or losing confidence in her because that was not the case,” Hammon said (via ESPN’s Kendra Andrews). “I made that very clear with her. …. As a coach, when a player says they need change, you’ve got to find a change.”
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The results have been immediate. Although she is playing five fewer minutes, Loyd is scoring five more points per game as a reserve, averaging 14.6 points in 25 minutes during her 10 games off the bench. For a player with Loyd’s resume—including multiple All-Star nods and a championship pedigree—her resurgence highlights the impact of Hammon’s calculated decision.
Las Vegas Aces Eye Another Championship Run
The Aces have reestablished themselves as one of the WNBA’s hottest teams. Sitting at the fifth spot in the WNBA standings with a 21-14 record, the Aces are peaking at the right time and surging toward the postseason with momentum. With their depth solidified and stars rounding into form, Las Vegas looks primed for another championship push.
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The franchise were one series shy of a three-peat after losing to the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals last season, and will hope to return to a familiar territory when the season rounds off in September.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
