In 2023, the Las Vegas Aces became more than just the first WNBA team to win back-to-back titles since 2002. They also established themselves as one of the best (and most fun) teams in WNBA history.
Most sports fans are familiar with the “disease of more,” a concept coined by Pat Riley, head coach of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers and current executive with the Miami Heat, that captures the idea that, once a team has won a championship, players become more focused on individual successes, whether money, notoriety or opportunity. The accumulation of such attitudes then contributes to an atrophying of team chemistry and success.
The 2023 Las Vegas Aces, in contrast, appeared not only to have ingested an antidote to the “disease of more,” but also discovered an alternative elixir. From the season’s opening tip, the Aces exhibited an unwavering commitment to shared purpose—a second-straight championship.
After a dominant regular season, their ambition suddenly was in doubt, with Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes suffering foot injuries in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Yet, they triumphed in dramatic fashion, with Finals MVP A’ja Wilson…
