The WNBA Playoffs have always had a way of creating legends. It’s the stage where role players suddenly turn into heroes, and where stars cement themselves as icons. Every year, we see players step into the spotlight, rewriting their narratives under the brightest lights. This year, that moment belongs to a kid from Gary, Indiana. Back then, she was just a fifth grader with a dream of one day reaching the WNBA. Today, she’s Dana Evans–no longer the dreamer, but the doer. Coach Hammon’s trusted piece and the “battery” of the Aces team, as A’ja Wilson says.

Dana Evans achieved her dream in 2021 when she made it to the W–and even lifted the championship as a rookie. But for Evans, simply being there was never enough. She wanted more. That pursuit of “more” led to a fresh start. Traded from the Chicago Sky to the Las Vegas Aces in exchange for the 16th and 22nd picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Evans walked into a new chapter hungry to prove herself. While her goal of becoming a starter still burns bright, she wasted no time making her presence felt in Vegas. In fact, Evans revealed that before the trade, Becky Hammon made her expectations clear–what she needed, how Evans fit, and what it would take to succeed.

In the postgame press conference after Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Evans said: “She(Hammon) basically told me that she wanted me to be aggressive. She wanted me to get in the paint, make good rim reads–whether that’s me getting layups or getting people open shots. Just being aggressive. I feel like that’s the main thing she wants from me. And defensively, picking up full court, causing havoc. Getting in the paint, being a pest, getting downhill, and shooting the ball. She’s been telling me to shoot the three more. So, just staying aggressive pretty much.”

Evans met those demands from coach Hammon in Game 1. She poured in 21 points on 5-of-6 shooting from deep, while adding four steals, three assists, and zero turnovers. The 5’6” guard even spent stretches matched up against 6’4” Phoenix forward DeWanna Bonner. On paper, it looked like a mismatch. On the court, it was proof that speed can overwhelm length. Vegas needed to push the tempo without losing control—and Evans gave them exactly that. As Wilson put it: “I’ve said multiple times that Dana’s our battery. She makes us play at a different pace.”

Her performance also made WNBA history. Evans became the first player in Finals history to hit five 3-pointers and record four steals in a single game, according to the WNBA communications page on X. And she wasn’t the only bench player to make a major impact. Kelsey Plum’s replacement, Jewell Loyd, who had averaged just 7.25 points this postseason, found her rhythm at the perfect time as she stepped up with 18 points of her own.

For a team that hasn’t always relied on its bench, the Aces got 41 of their 89 points from the reserves. As coach Becky Hammon put it, “I think we have the best overall bench that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”

For Evans, however, coming off the bench has been a learning experience. Here’s what she had to say….

Dana Evans on being part of the Aces bench

“We have weapons,” Becky Hammon said after the game. “We want to use them all. We’re harder to guard that way.” The Aces haven’t always had deep bench options, though players like Alysha Clark and Sydney Colson contributed in past seasons. But as Hammon pointed out, this might be the best bench the team has ever had. With Jewell Loyd coming off the bench, it’s a luxury in itself. And the fact that they were able to win the game without even using Cheyenne Parker-Tyus? That’s some serious bench depth.

For Dana, even sitting on the bench became a learning opportunity. She’s come to embrace what that can mean: every game started on the sidelines is a chance to sharpen her problem-solving. “You have to be a student of the game,” Evans said. “You have to know what’s not working, what is working, and when you go out there, you don’t want to make the same mistakes that we’ve been making.”

Going forward, Dana Evans will certainly be one of the main talking points when discussing the Aces. In fact, she was already part of the conversation during the playoffs. In the September 21, 2025, semifinal clash against the Indiana Fever, her 14-point outing on 6-of-9 shooting reminded fans of the talented guard she was at Louisville. But can she keep this hot streak going? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!