Becky Hammon is standing "10 toes down" behind A'ja Wilson. The Las Vegas Aces coach backed her star player after the WNBA decided not to suspend Wilson for an incident involving an Indiana Fever fan during their Game 2 playoff loss.
After reviewing the incident, the league determined Wilson remained in the player escape lane rather than entering the seating area. That distinction made further punishment beyond her in-game technical foul unnecessary.
How Did the A'ja Wilson Fever Fan Incident Unfold After Sophie Cunningham's Foul?
The exhange played out with roughly four minutes left at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 29th, shortly after Sophie Cunningham was called for a blocking foul on Wilson in the lane.
A nearby fan stood up, pointed at Wilson, and stepped toward her, prompting the Aces star to confront him directly before teammates intervened. Cunningham, meanwhile, used the chaos to argue the call with officials.
Security briefly removed the fan but let him return after concluding he hadn't violated Indiana's Fan Code of Conduct.
Becky Hammon's Thoughts on A'ja Wilson's Possible Suspension
Despite putting up 22 points and nine rebounds in the 99-89 loss that evened the series at 1-1, Wilson drew more attention for the confrontation than her stat line. Hammon, who said she had never seen Wilson react that way, called the fan's behavior unacceptable.
"She felt very disrespected in that moment," Hammon said. "So, whatever it was, [it] doesn't have any place in an arena."
With no suspension looming, Wilson answered in Game 3 by scoring 36 points with 10 rebounds, powering the Aces to a 94-83 win.
No. 3 Las Vegas punched its ticket, taking down No. 6 Indiana 94-83 on Thursday to win the best-of-three first-round series and book a trip to the WNBA semifinals.
Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson made the difference for the defending champion. She posted 36 points and 10 rebounds while helping hold Fever duo Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell to less than 34% from the field.
“I was just trying to send a message not only to the Indiana Fever but to my teammates,” Wilson said. “We kept saying, ‘Empty the tank.’”
The Aces next face either No. 2 Golden State or No. 7 Dallas on Sunday, as the Valkyries and Wings gear up for tonight’s winner-take-all Game 3.
Golden State is hunting a first-ever semifinal berth after letting Game 2 slip away in overtime behind Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale’s late-game burst.
“We’re not here to trade baskets with people, we’re a defensive team,” said Valkyries guard Gabby Williams. “We need to get stops.”
Golden State hosts Dallas tonight at 9 PM ET (ESPN2).
A'ja Wilson picked up a technical foul after confronting a courtside fan during the Las Vegas Aces' Game 2 loss to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday.
What Happened During the A'ja Wilson Fan Confrontation?
The exchange came during a tense stretch in the fourth quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Wilson pulled her mouthguard, directed a finger at the man, and picked up a technical for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Before that, the Fever fan had been heckling Wilson as the Aces trailed with just minutes left in the game. Clips circulating on social media show the man standing, shouting, and stepping towards the court after Wilson's tussle with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham.
Wilson crossed the baseline to confront the fan before her teammates and the Aces coaching staff intervened to deescalate the situation. Arena security briefly escorted the man out though he eventually returned to his seat.
Aces Speak Out on Experience in Indiana After Fever Playoff Loss
"If I see a man come at me, taking steps towards me and pointing at me, I don't give a damn what you said," Wilson said postgame. "That is unacceptable."
Coach Becky Hammon echoed that sentiment, explaining Wilson felt "very disrespected" in that moment.
"The lines get crossed, and it seems to happen here," she said.
This isn't the fan altercation the Aces have fielded at Gainbridge, either. Earlier in the season, a Fever fan harrassed guard Jackie Young on the court. Though she didn't reveal what was said, she did admitting the "chirping" went "a little bit too far."
Indiana went on to win the game 99-89, evening the first-round series at one game apiece. The organization later addressed the incident with Wilson, issuing a statement that cleared the fan of any wrongdoing.
"Following a report of a comment directed toward a player, arena security spoke with the fan involved and witnesses," the Fever said. "Security determined there was no violation of the Fan Code of Conduct; the fan was not removed from the arena. We consider the matter closed."
Indiana will now head back to Las Vegas to face the Aces in a must-win Game 3 for both teams. Tip-off is at 9 PM ET on Thursday on Prime Video.
The Fever is staying alive. No. 6 Indiana bounced back against No. 3 Las Vegas in last night’s 99-89 Aces vs Fever first-round playoff win to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
Fever star Caitlin Clark posted a career-best playoff performance with a 27-point, 15-assist double-double, becoming the first-ever WNBA player to hit that statline in regulation.
“It’s what we need from her, night in and night out,” coach Stephanie White said of Clark. “And she was the catalyst for us here tonight.”
A’ja Wilson made headlines for more than her 22-point, 9-rebound showing. She earned a technical foul after a heated fourth-quarter exchange with an Indiana fan.
“I see a man come at me, taking steps toward me and pointing at me, I don’t give a damn what you said,” Wilson said afterward.
“Whatever was done, I can tell you she felt very disrespected in that moment,” echoed coach Becky Hammon.
The Aces host the Fever on Thursday at 9 PM ET (USA).
Angel Reese is hitting new heights, taking home this week’s AP Defensive Player of the Year award in just her first year in Atlanta.
Reese succeeded Las Vegas’s four-time MVP A’ja Wilson. She finished third in steals while sitting atop the league in rebounds for the third straight season.
She joined other fellow AP honorees Rookie of the Year Olivia Miles (Minnesota), Most Improved Player Jessica Shepard (Dallas), and Sixth Woman of the Year winner Janelle Salaün (Golden State). Caitlin Clark (Indiana) won Comeback Player of the Year after returning from injury.
Wilson didn’t go unnoticed. The AP named her the WNBA Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
Eyeing a fifth MVP award, Wilson led the league in scoring with 26.2 points per game, while averaging 9.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks.
“My counterparts in this league are really good,” she told the AP. “I don't take it lightly because of how much talent we do have.”
No. 3 Las Vegas remains the team to beat. The reigning WNBA champion firmly defeated No. 6 Indiana 102-85, tipping off its repeat title bid with a Fever vs Aces blowout.
Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson ran the floor. She racked up record-setting 38 points and 16 rebounds while shooting 75% from the field.
“She turns into a decision-maker, or a finisher, when they put two on the ball,” said coach Becky Hammon. “She needs to just touch the ball, because she’s going to make the right play.”
After pushing the Aces to a Game 5 semifinal decider last year, the Fever will need to rekindle that same spirit to survive Tuesday’s home clash.
“Oftentimes, you have to be humbled,” said coach Stephanie White. “We just didn’t have that same sort of urgency in the details.”
Indiana hosts Las Vegas on Tuesday at 6:30 PM ET (Prime).
The 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award race has become one of the season's most compelling storylines.
Historically, the DPOY award has favored interior rim protectors — see: multi-time winner A'ja Wilson or 2025 co-recipient Alanna Smith — known for anchoring the paint and racking up blocks. However, 2026 has highlighted a shift toward perimeter disruption, versatility, and team-wide defensive architecture.
It's been a season of underdogs, shouldering lights-out defensive ratings, and high-motor forwards shutting down passing lanes. And voters subsequently face a tough choice between lockdown perimeter play, relentless glass-cleaning, and traditional paint dominance.
Check out JWS's WNBA Power Rankings, counting down the five hottest contenders for one of the most coveted end-of-year nods.
1. A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Key Stats: 9.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 100.4 defensive rating
After putting up yet another record-smashing season, multi-award winner A'ja Wilson remains an absolute nightmare in the paint.
Even while carrying the Aces' offensive load, she functions as a one-woman safety net. She paces the field with almost 2.0 blocks per game while altering countless drives via sheer unpredictability and impeccable timing.
Las Vegas's team-wide defense hasn't hit its usual peak (yet). But Wilson's individual rim protection and unmatched veteran instincts keep her firmly in the award conversation for anyone who values pure paint deterrence.
2. Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream)
2026 Stats: 12.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, .7 BPG, 99.3 defensive rating
From longshot to this year's AP winner, Angel Reese has mounted a meteoric rise in the DPOY race as she settles into the Atlanta Dream's coast-to-coast operation.
Fueled by an endless motor, she manages to get into everything — derailing passing lanes with nearly two steals per game, exhibiting top versatility on switches, and destroying second-chance opportunities by completely owning the glass.
Forget low block numbers. Her raw, game-altering force and top-notch interior metrics make her an option voters simply can't ignore this year.
3. Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries)
2026 Stats: 3.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, .2 BPG, 98.2 defensive rating
The betting favorite for a reason, Gabby Williams has been terrorizing opposing backcourts all season long as the heartbeat of the WNBA's top-rated defense.
Defying historic typecasting for DPOY hardware, the 5-foot-11 veteran's impact completely shatters the box score. She suffocates on-ball pressure, maintains elite spatial awareness, and executes near-flawless pick-and-roll destruction.
Guarding positions one through four with absolute ferocity, she is the ultimate modern weapon — posing a serious, if unconventional, threat to any DPOY award hopeful.
4. Shakira Austin (Washington Mystics)
Key Stats: 9.5 RPG, .8 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 98.7 defensive rating
As the ultimate value-driven dark horse, Shakira Austin provides the Washington Mystics with indispensable interior muscle.
As the bedrock of a defense that clamps down inside the arc, she's become a master of verticality contesting at the rim without fouling and locking down the paint. From holding her ground against heavy post brawlers to stepping up against aggressively hedged ball-screens, she's a huge reason this young, scrappy team came barrelling into the postseason.
Team seeding and a lack of national spotlight might cloud her ballot case, but her underlying metrics prove she's played at a DPOY level all year long.
5. Kiah Stokes (Golden State Valkyries)
Key Stats: 5.8 RPG, .6 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 94.8 defensive rating
Kiah Stokes has quietly emerged as an invaluable anchor for her Golden State squad, making a compelling push into the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year conversation.
While her offensive contributions remain modest, Stokes's defensive impact shines through smart positioning, disciplined rim deterrence, and textbook communication.
She alters driving lanes and contests shots at the rim with remarkable consistency, providing the Valkyries battle-tested efficiency ratings whenever she's on the floor.
Her ability to neutralize opposing post players without fouling, combined with her veteran awareness, makes her a classic unsung hero whose defensive metrics and intangible contributions demand serious attention from awards voters.
A'ja Wilson's 2026 WNBA MVP award argument just got its strongest endorsement yet. Dawn Staley, Wilson's college coach at South Carolina from 2014 to 2018, declared her former player the greatest of all time this week.
"She's already the GOAT," Staley said of the Las Vegas Aces standout. "She has done things that no other player has done."
Why Dawn Staley Says A'ja Wilson Has WNBA MVP Award on Lock
Wilson is currently averaging 26.0 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season. She also leads the league in blocks. That two-way dominance, Staley argued, is what puts Wilson above every other WNBA awards contender.
"You can argue with a wall. A'ja Wilson is the MVP," Staley said.
Kelsey Mitchell and Olivia Miles have both entered the conversation this year thanks to their offensive output. Mitchell is averaging 25 points per game. Miles, already a Rookie of the Year lock, is logging 19.8 with 4.7 rebounds. Still, Wilson's defense in Las Vegas gives her the edge, according to her former coach.
"A'ja's defense is the differentiator and the separator," Staley added.
"She is the best player in the league. Not taking anything away from the great season that Kelsey Mitchell has had. Who else is in the MVP race? Olivia Miles, super great season. On both sides of the ball, there is nobody doing it like A'ja. And you can't discount that."
Among other accolades, Wilson has already won four WNBA MVP trophies, more than any player in league history. Another nod would give her three in a row. And she''ll have more opportunities to prove her case as the Aces continue their WNBA playoffs run.
Nneka Ogwumike received a standing ovation ahead of her last game in Las Vegas before reminding the crowd why she's earned eight All-Star selections. The 2016 MVP put up 17 points and nine rebounds for the LA Sparks on Tuesday night. But it wasn't enough to slow a Las Vegas Aces team riding a six-game winning streak.
A'ja Wilson Powers Las Vegas Aces Past LA Sparks
The Aces wasted no time pulling away, rattling off 15 straight points in the first quarter and never letting the Sparks back within reach. Las Vegas eventually closed the game 89-79.
A'ja Wilson posted 18 points and 10 rebounds in her 64th straight double-digit scoring game. Jackie Young added 14 points and 11 assists, and Chelsea Gray finished with 17 of her own.
The victory moved Las Vegas to 30-13 on the WNBA season, locking up at least a No. 3 playoff seed with home-court advantage in the first round. Meanwhile, the Sparks dropped to 16-27 without injured Dearica Hamby (left knee) and Cameron Brink (right ankle).
The 2026 WNBA Playoffs tip off Sunday. If standings hold, Las Vegas would face the sixth-ranked Washington Mystics in a best-of-three series. The Sparks, meanwhile, head into the offseason well outside the playoff picture as Ogwumike's 15-year career enters its final stretch.
A'ja Wilson led the Las Vegas Aces past the Seattle Storm 98-77 on Sunday, recording her 49th career 30-point game. The win stretches Las Vegas's streak to five straight and puts the Aces third in the current WNBA standings — one game ahead of the Atlanta Dream.
Las Vegas Offense Dominates Latest Storm vs Aces Meeting
Wilson went 16-for-18 at the line to fuel the scoring. Her teammate Jackie Young added 23 points and eight assists on 10-of-15 shooting, while veteran Chelsea Gray contributed 15 as all three finished in double figures.
Las Vegas wasted no time taking control of the scoreboard, mounting a 21-2 run in the first quarter and building a 27-12 lead before the period ended. Seattle fought back in the second, cutting the deficit to two on two occasions.
Flau'jae Johnson did her best to create a comeback, posting a season-high 29 points with five three-pointers. Young Storm star Dominique Malonga added 25 on 10-of-13 from the field, too. However, the Aces pulled away after halftime and never gave Seattle another opening.
Where Las Vegas Lands After This Week's WNBA Scores
The loss drops Seattle to 8-35, marking its 18th defeat in the last 20 games. Las Vegas, meanwhile, notched an important win to shore up its postseason positioning ahead of next week's WNBA playoffs.