Las Vegas Aces Launch Home Season With 85-74 Win Against Seattle Sunday With Owner Mark Davis’ Revamped Business Operations
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Story by Cassandra Cousineau and Alan Snel/Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
The Las Vegas Aces took the floor at Mandalay Bay Sunday for their first home game of 2022 with owner Mark Davis’ overhaul complete of the business side of the operations.
High-profile coach Becky Hammon started her era as the Aces’ leader with a decisive win in Phoenix two days ago, while the Aces’ new general manager, Natalie Williams, saw the team she has assembled play its first 2022 game at the Michelob Ultra Arena on the Strip.
The Aces defeated a very competitive Seattle team, 85-74, in the team’s home-opener. Seattle led by a point entering the fourth quarter, but the Aces’ up-tempo style took its toll on the Storm and Las Vegas secured its second win to open the new season with an 11-point win before a loud and rowdy crowd of 6,212.
Davis started the business overhaul with the hiring of Nikki Fargas as team president. Fargas, in turn, recruited Hammon to take over for former coach Bill Laimbeer.
Under Fargas, the Aces have beefed up their marketing staff. The Aces enlisted former University of San Francisco women’s basketball coach Jennifer Azzi as chief business development officer and Blair Hardiek as chief marketing and communications officer.
LVSportsBiz.com interviewed Davis before the game about the Aces’ business hires.
Davis said it’s a “women’s league,” but the women were hired on the business side because they were the best people for the job.
We were picking the best people and the results will speak for themselves — Las Vegas Aces owner Mark Davis
Hiring Hammon also has business implications because she has mass appeal to both women and men fans because of her coaching cred in the NBA as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs.
Before the game, Davis was joined by former MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren, who spearheaded MGM Resorts’ purchase of the WNBA team in San Antonio and moved the franchise to Las Vegas where it was rebranded into the Aces in 2018.
Murren told LVSportsBiz.com that Davis has “elevated (Aces) to another level.”
In turn, Davis said Murren and MGM Resorts created “a great foundation to build on” for the franchise.
Murren also met up with Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, who is quite the sports fan.
Davis sat courtside with Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and the Aces CEO, Larry Delsen, who is a close Davis friend and CPA who has advised the Davis family on accounting issues. Delsen’s son, Matt, now works as chief operating officer/chief financial officer for the Aces. And Sisolak’s daughter, Carley, is also on the Aces staff as marketing director. Take a look:
Fargas said she learned even more about marketing the WNBA from ESPN when she served as a commentator during ESPN’s coverage of the women’s college basketball tournament.
Fargas, now in her second year with Las Vegas, spoke with LVSportsBiz.com about her optimism for the new season.
“We are excited about our draft picks. We feel we have a strong nucleus returning, and we added a few pieces to the puzzle to put us back into the championship picture,” Fargas said.
She added, “Our general manager, Natalie Williams, has done a phenomenal job in a short period of time.”
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This is no longer Laimbeer’s team. It’s a Hammon team that plays with more pace, speed and quickness.
After the Aces’ win, Hammon also praised the defensive work of A’ja Wilson, the team’s foundational player. Hammon said Wilson was one of the best defensive players in the WNBA.
In response, Wilson quipped, “I hope coach Staley heard that.”
By the way, Wilson even nailed a three-point shot against Seattle. And chances are good you will see more long-range shooting from the Aces this season.
Your game summary here. Notice all five Aces starters in double figures with Young, Hamby, Wilson and Plum all logging more than 34 minutes of playing time. Breanna Stewart scored 21 to lead Seattle.
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The Aces took the fewest number of 3-point shots and made the second-least shots from beyond the arc of any team in the WNBA last season.
With former Aces center Liz Cambage gone, Hammon has turned the Aces guards loose while making the three-pointers a part of the game plan.
To do that, Las Vegas pursued more shooters and four out of the five Aces draft picks were intended to fortify Hammon’s vision.
Fargas remarked how much she liked the versatility of the draft. However, Mya Hollingshed, Khayla Pointer, along with undrafted rookie free agent Nancy Mulkey have since been waived.
With former center Liz Cambage no longer on the Aces, the WNBA team looks to play faster with a more up-tempo style under Hammon.
The Aces have former league MVP Wilson as its foundation with former sixth-women-of-the-year winner Dearica Hamby and Plum playing bigger roles on the team, the Las Vegas team poured in 106 points in its season-opening win over Phoenix. You might recall the Mercury ended the Aces’ title hopes last season in the WNBA semis.
Wilson stuck around after the game to greet 100 kids who were treated to free tickets courtesy of the Aces’ popular All-Star player. Here’s Wilson at the meet-and-greet in the arena.
PSA
