The Las Vegas Aces are champions again — three titles in four years, a dynasty cemented in WNBA history. But behind the champagne, the confetti, and the celebration, head coach Becky Hammon made a shocking confession that left fans stunned.
Speaking on “Post Moves,” the podcast hosted by Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston, Hammon didn’t hold back. She didn’t talk about the Finals pressure, the superstar clashes, or the fatigue of a long postseason. Instead, she dropped a truth bomb no one saw coming:
“Indiana, actually, was probably the hardest series I’ve been through.”
Not the Finals. Not the 2023 title run. Not any grueling series against veteran-loaded teams. No — it was the Indiana Fever, a team that came into the playoffs battered, bruised, and missing half its core.
For a coach who’s been through nearly everything in basketball — from WNBA battles to NBA assistant stints — that statement hit like a thunderclap.
Hammon explained that the Fever, despite losing Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, Aari McDonald, Sydney Colson, and Chloe Bibby, refused to quit. Even Kelsey Mitchell, their offensive anchor, went down late in the decisive Game 5. Still, Indiana fought tooth and nail.
“Indiana played their asses off,” Hammon admitted. “You can’t be mad at either team — it was just two squads going blow for blow, back and forth, both playing elite basketball. I don’t care what the names on the jerseys are — that was pure competition.”
The Aces eventually outlasted the Fever with a 107–98 win, sealing another championship banner for Las Vegas. But this wasn’t the kind of victory Hammon could simply celebrate and move on from. This one stuck.
“After Game 5, I was mad,” Hammon confessed. “But I went back and watched the film. Indiana made us earn every bucket. It was different — this one hit different.”
It’s rare for a reigning champion to openly admit that a supposedly “underdog” opponent nearly broke them. Yet that’s what makes Hammon’s comment so explosive — and, in many ways, so respectful.
The Fever weren’t just a scrappy young team. They were a revelation — a unit that refused to collapse even when the odds screamed “impossible.” Playing without their superstar rookie Caitlin Clark, Indiana still pushed the defending champs to the brink, delivering one of the most competitive series in recent WNBA memory.
Adding to the intrigue, the matchup featured a fascinating subplot: A’ja Wilson vs. Aliyah Boston, both former South Carolina Gamecocks, both No. 1 overall picks, both protégés of Dawn Staley — now facing each other on the biggest stage.
Wilson, the 2018 pick, has become the face of Las Vegas basketball. Boston, the 2023 pick, has already become the cornerstone of Indiana’s rebuild. Their duels weren’t just about skill — they were about pride, legacy, and the future of women’s basketball.
In the end, Las Vegas lifted the trophy. But Hammon’s words painted a picture deeper than victory — one of respect, rivalry, and evolution.
Because if the toughest series of Becky Hammon’s career came against a depleted Indiana Fever, then maybe the next WNBA dynasty isn’t the one that just won… but the one that nearly did.
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