The Las Vegas Strip was electric Saturday afternoon as the Las Vegas Aces kicked off their 30th WNBA season with a highly anticipated home opener at T-Mobile Arena. But what was supposed to be a night of celebration quickly turned sour, as the Phoenix Mercury crashed the party and handed the defending champions a stunning 99-66 defeat.
Before tipoff, the Aces honored their 2025 championship with a dazzling ring ceremony, marking their third title in four years. The first 7,500 fans in attendance received commemorative "Three of a Kind" flags, a nod to the team's historic run. Owner Mark Davis praised the squad, calling the ring "a testament to what the 2025 Las Vegas Aces accomplished — and a reminder that each one of them is a champion, both on and off the court." The rings themselves are a masterpiece: the iconic Aces logo sits at the center, surrounded by diamonds spelling out "WORLD CHAMPIONS," while the 2022, 2023, and 2025 WNBA trophies rise above, each set with a large diamond. Four custom-cut baguette diamonds and 17 black diamonds honor the team's 17 consecutive wins during their unforgettable championship journey.
But the Mercury had other plans. After being swept 4-0 by the Aces in the 2025 WNBA Finals, Phoenix entered the 2026 season hungry for redemption. They wasted no time, dominating from start to finish and handing Las Vegas its worst loss in recent memory. A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to counter Phoenix's balanced attack. Alyssa Thomas paced the Mercury with 20 points, while the entire team seemed to move with a vengeance, erasing any memories of last October's sweep.
The Aces were also without two key players: Dana Evans (left leg) and Janiah Barker (concussion protocol), which added to the challenge. After the game, head coach Becky Hammon acknowledged the tough start, noting the team's need to regroup quickly. For fans, it's a reminder that even dynasties face bumps in the road — and that the WNBA's 30th season is already shaping up to be one for the books.