Becky Hammon reached another major milestone as the Las Vegas Aces beat the Golden State Valkyries 91-81 on Sunday in San Francisco. The win was the 150th of her WNBA coaching career, and she became the second-fastest coach in league history to reach that mark.
Hammon needed 205 games to get there, trailing only Van Chancellor, who reached 150 victories in 198 games with the Houston Comets. The achievement added another line to a coaching résumé that already includes three WNBA titles in four seasons with Las Vegas.
A milestone built on consistency
Hammon said the number matters less than the way the Aces have reached it. “What stands out the most to me is how much I enjoy the process,” she said, describing Las Vegas as a “process kind of team” that focuses on doing things the right way and trusting the results to follow.
That approach was tested during the Aces’ latest season, when the team spent the first two months moving in and out of the playoff picture. Las Vegas also endured a three-game losing streak and entered the All-Star break at .500, a position that raised questions before the team found its rhythm.
The turning point came after a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 2, a result that looked like a low point. Instead, it became a spark, as the Aces won every remaining regular-season game and carried that momentum into another championship run.
Players credit Hammon’s leadership
A’ja Wilson pointed to Hammon’s confidence and trust as a major reason for the team’s success. “She instills so much power and so much confidence in us,” Wilson said, adding that Hammon gives players “so much grace” and often responds with reassurance rather than frustration.
Wilson said that trust goes both ways, and that connection has helped define the Aces’ culture under Hammon. She also said Hammon’s support makes it easier for players to stay composed, even in difficult moments when they are upset with themselves.
The Aces’ veteran leadership showed again against Golden State. After leading by only two points at halftime, Las Vegas opened the third quarter with a 21-6 run and stretched the margin to 24 points in the second half.
Las Vegas keeps building
Golden State cut the deficit to eight in the fourth quarter, but the Aces never allowed the Valkyries to get closer. Las Vegas scored 91 points, the most the Valkyries have allowed this season, and Hammon still framed the team as unfinished.
“We’re still a work in progress,” Hammon said. She added that an identity does not simply carry over from one season to the next, saying it has to be built again every year and that the Aces remain “in building mode.”
That perspective fits the broader picture of her Las Vegas tenure, which has produced three championships in four years and a 10-2 record in the Finals. For Hammon, the 150-win milestone reflects not just longevity, but a sustained standard of performance from a team that continues to win while still treating each season as a fresh challenge.
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