The WNBA semifinals between Becky Hammon’s Las Vegas Aces and Sandy Brondello’s New York Liberty were hyped as a heavyweight showdown, and the series lived up to every bit of that billing. The defending champion Aces, however, got knocked out in four games, which is sports talk for, “Liberty got their revenge.” The final nail in the coffin came in a not-so-thrilling 76-62 Game 4 loss, as the Liberty walked away victorious, while Hammon’s squad packed their bags a little earlier than they had hoped.
But here’s where things get juicy. In the wake of the Aces’ early exit, the trash talk between the teams that had been simmering over the past year hit a boiling point. The Aces defeated the Liberty for the 2023 championship, which led to plenty of chirping between the two sides. And while Hammon’s squad was talking a big game then, it’s the Liberty’s turn to talk their smack now.
“We talked our crap, they heard it, and now they get to talk theirs. It’s part of the game. It’s not personal,” Hammon said, basically translating to, “Alright, you won this round, but don’t forget who’s got the bigger trophy collection.” Of course, she couldn’t resist giving credit where it’s due, throwing some love to Liberty stars Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, while tipping her hat to coach Sandy Brondello. “Sandy coached me. Me and Sandy go way back. Sab, Stewie… mad respect,” Hammon added, before probably muttering under her breath, “But I’ll get you next time.”
And speaking of “next time,” Hammon might be facing a whole new crew in 2025. Rumors of a roster shakeup are swirling faster than a three-pointer from Sabrina. “It’s not going to be the same group next year, it just won’t. And I’m sad about that because I really liked this group,” Hammon lamented, clearly bracing herself for a busy offseason. Kelsey Plum, the Aces’ veteran point guard and three-time All-Star, is about to hit free agency like a comet, and no one’s sure if she’ll stay in Vegas or roll the dice elsewhere.
Meanwhile, forward Alysha Clark and guard Tiffany Hayes — who did their part with solid contributions this season — will also be testing the waters of free agency. So, while the Aces’ 2024 campaign was a bit of a rollercoaster (and by rollercoaster, I mean the kind that leaves you screaming, “Why did I get on this thing?”), the offseason promises plenty of twists and turns as well.
One thing’s for sure: when Hammon’s Aces finally retake the court, they’ll either be packing more star power than a Hollywood blockbuster or be a squad of fresh faces learning on the fly. Either way, expect Becky to come out with a playbook ready to write the next chapter in her already storied career — and maybe some new trash talk along the way.
After all, in the WNBA, if you can talk the talk, you better walk the walk — or at least keep your shoes ready for the next dance.