Confetti rained down, cameras flashed, and cheers echoed down every corner of the city. The Las Vegas Aces painted the Strip red once again after clinching their third WNBA title in four years. But amid all the celebration, it was head coach Becky Hammon who stole the moment. Not with a champagne bottle, but with her words.

After the team finished smiling and waving down the Las Vegas Strip, it was time for them to address the fans in attendance. Once the ownership was done, it was Becky who took the mic and delivered eight golden words: “I’m very comfortable in the underdog role… But you can’t count this group out, ever. I don’t care if we’re the No. 8-seed, 1-seed, 2-seed, whatever.” Then, she paused for a cheer and reiterated, “You don’t want it!”

To fully appreciate Hammon’s confession, one must understand the journey that brought the Aces to this point. For them, the 2025 season was more like a roller-coaster ride. By August 2, they stood at a 14–14 record and had suffered the worst home defeat in league history, a 111–58 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.

Honestly, by then, many had lost hope for Las Vegas. But what followed was remarkable. The team rattled off a 16-game winning streak, surging up the standings to secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Still, it was a long road to the championship. A’ja Wilson and company poured all their effort into every battle, collecting wins along the way.

By the time they faced the Indiana Fever in the semifinals, everyone knew Las Vegas was a team that could not be underestimated, even if they were technically underdogs. After all, it was A’ja Wilson, four-time MVP, leading the pack, paired with Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. Their consistency, athleticism, and ability to carry the team in crucial moments have been cornerstones of Las Vegas’ championship runs.

Hammon highlighted this during the parade as she said, “They came in and worked their tails off, no matter the circumstances… This is one of the most resilient, high-character groups.” And yes, the squad has been there since the beginning. They’ve known the grind and are always on their toes to execute what Hammon asks.

Even in the finals, the plan was precise. Hammon demanded, and the players delivered. This time, however, her strategies varied by game: switching from man defense to zone in Game 1, relying on the Big Three in Game 2, using bench rotations and three-pointers to dominate Phoenix in Game 3, and finally, with her Big Three securing 67 of the total points in Game 4, she sealed the finals with a sweep.

It had been Becky Hammon’s rallying call from the beginning.

From the very start, Hammon built her career on proving where she belonged. She was a consensus All-American at Colorado State in 1999 but still went undrafted. Yet, she carved out a Hall-of-Fame-caliber playing career in the WNBA and became a multiple-time All-Star. And even then, it wasn’t enough—she was initially not invited to the U.S. Olympic training camp. But all of this just acted as fuel, and Hammon became unstoppable.

“If you want to put me as an underdog, I’m perfectly comfortable in that role,” Hammon told Yahoo Sports last year in July. “I’m not somebody who has gotten here by luck. I’ve had to work. I’m not afraid to work. I enjoy working, and I enjoy working hard.” And that mindset didn’t just help her playing career-it also motivates her as head coach for Las Vegas.

Now, Hammon’s players reflect her competitive DNA. Especially A’ja Wilson, who wasn’t named MVP in 2023, used it as fuel for a historic stretch of games. Even point guard Chelsea Gray, as gifted a passer as any in the league, won the 2022 Finals MVP by carrying the team in clutch moments. So yes, it’s their shared underdog mentality that translates into championship chemistry. Of course, the Aces aren’t slowing down, so get ready for a dominant next season!