New FSM Feature: Las Vegas Aces Championship Culture

FSM Feature: Las Vegas Aces Championship Culture

Franchise Sports Media

The Las Vegas Aces have a culture that other WNBA teams want. The Aces’ winning culture is built on the team’s philosophy, work ethic, and the mentality that drives their success. It is also built on chemistry and that starts at the top.

The back-to-back WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces have set the standard on the court, as well as off of it. The Aces haven’t just been successful; they’ve redefined what it means to dominate a league.

Their consistent presence at the top of the WNBA is a testament to a winning culture that has been cultivated over the years.

But what exactly is the secret sauce behind their success?

At the heart of the Aces‘ philosophy is a relentless pursuit of excellence. This isn’t just a slogan; it’s a daily commitment embraced by players, coaches, and staff alike. Every practice, every film session, and every game is an opportunity to get better.

This unwavering dedication to improvement has set the Aces apart from their WNBA competitors.

Strong leadership is essential for cultivating a winning culture, and the Aces have it in spades.

Aces head coach Becky Hammon has instilled a championship mentality into her team. Her ability to connect with players on a personal level, combined with her basketball brilliance, has been instrumental in the Aces‘ success.

She is the WNBA’s best coach, and her impact is felt beyond the basketball court.

Aces players often speak to how honest Hammon is and how she makes the game fun. But they are also quick to point out she doesn’t accept a half-hearted effort and hates losing.

But leadership isn’t confined to the coaching staff. Aces veterans like 2x WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray have emerged as vocal leaders on and off the court since they arrived in Las Vegas. Their ability to inspire and motivate their teammates has been crucial in creating a cohesive unit.

Gray is an extension of Hammon whether she is on the court or on the bench. Having Gray on the court is like having another coach, and the difference can be seen when she is in the game compared to when she isn’t.

Wilson is the WNBA’s most dominant player and is on pace to her third WNBA MVP award. She also is the face of the league and is unafraid to speak her mind about issues in the league and outside of it.

“I played against all the GOATs. I’m going to put it out there. [Wilson] is gonna be the GOAT of the GOATs. She’s that good. I’m trying to think of an NBA comp. I’m trying to think of a WNBA comp. There ain’t nobody in the world like A’ja Wilson, who willed us on her back and said, ‘Hey, I’m about to put you on my back. Come follow me.’ And we did,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said.

Another person who deserves credit is the team’s owner, Mark Davis. The Aces and Las Vegas Raiders owner is a long-time proponent of women’s basketball and can be seen courtside at all of their games. He is the person that hired (and paid) Becky Hammon. He also rewards his players for winning by locking them into contracts paying them near max money.

Davis also defends his team. Davis believes the WNBA has a double standard when deciding who to investigate and why. When the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) recently announced it had reached $100,000 sponsorship deals with each player on the Aces team, almost immediately the WNBA announced it was investigating the deals.

Davis was not happy and voiced his opinion.

“Nike is an owner of the WNBA and they’re allowed to sponsor Caitlin Clark for $28 million on one player and nobody’s complaining or investigating,” Davis said. “And I think it’s great that Nike’s doing that. But let’s give credit to where credit’s due: Las Vegas Convention Authority is stepping up and recognizing these women.”

“There was absolutely nothing done wrong,” Davis said. “And I think it’s sad that they used the word investigation instead of something a little softer to say, ‘Hey, we might look into it’ or whatever. But they’re going to find there’s nothing wrong.”

“When you say ‘investigation,’ other organizations that are in our community might say, ‘Hey, we may want to sit back and wait. Maybe this is illegal’ or this or that,” Davis said. “And I think that’s the wrong approach.”

When the owner of the team has the players’ and coaches’ backs and does so publicly, the team feels it and will go out of their way to win for him. The players’ appreciation is another example of their winning culture.

The Aces team chemistry is unlike any other team in the WNBA and is a key component of the culture.

The Aces‘ success is built on a foundation of hard work. Long hours, intense practices, and a commitment to the small details are hallmarks of the team’s culture. This dedication to the grind separates them from the pack and gives them a competitive edge.

While the Aces are all about business on the court, they also understand the importance of celebrating their successes on and off of it. The team believes that a positive and supportive environment fosters camaraderie and strengthens bonds, which helps equal wins.

“I know a lot of people may get annoyed by us or maybe say we’re fake or we’re doing this for cameras,” Wilson said. “But, no, that’s really us. The biggest thing is our joy, how we play, and how much fun we have.”

A perfect example is what happened last season.

There was a prank that was initiated by Kelsey Plum against Sydney Colson, who mistakenly, in the team’s family room, asked if a woman’s sister was Colson’s mother. That led to Colson being called into an emergency meeting with team president Nikki Fargas and Hammon.

In the clip, Plum suggested that the trio of players-turned-pranksters write that “we have multiple complaints of you overstepping” and that Colson’s use of “comedic humor” has “gotta stop.” Then, she asked Fargas to get involved:

“I was thinking in the letter, I say something like ‘When you get this, please come to my office,‘” Plum said. “And so we’re going to put it in the letter and let her read it, and she’s going to lose her shit.“

“We have this complaint,” Hammon asked Colson during the interaction, captured on camera. “What do you think we should do?”

“You know, Syd, you bring so much to this organization,” Fargas said. “Everybody loves your spirit, loves how you just put a smile on people’s faces, and I think that’s part of what makes this team very special.“

“But I was also a little disappointed that I was receiving an email about an incident that happened in our last game with a family member,” she added.

“It just slipped out of my mouth,” Colson said.

“I can’t keep this joke any longer,” Hammon said, with Fargas jumping out of her chair. “Gotchu! This is all your dog Plum, she got the letter, she got everything.”

Colson was in disbelief as Fargas and Hammon laughed and hugged her. She said she knew there was “no way this is real,” but still flipped out when she learned all of her teammates were in on the prank.

Aces forward Alysha Clark told The Franchise Podcast that she went on vacation with her teammates because they’re her closest friends. That type of bond shows when times get rough and teams need to muster up a way and a will to win.

The Aces‘ winning culture is a blueprint for success in any field. Their unwavering commitment to excellence, strong leadership, tireless work ethic, and positive environment have created a powerhouse that is difficult to match. As long as they continue to embrace these core values, the Aces will remain a dominant force in the WNBA.

Make sure you keep coming back to FSM for all your Las Vegas Aces coverage. Thanks for visiting FranchiseSportsMedia.com for your Las Vegas Sports news today.

Franchise Sports Media. Las Vegas sports news about Las Vegas Sports teams.

– Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe on all social media: @joearrigofsm

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