2026 Las Vegas Aces preview, projections, and players to watch
The 2026 WNBA season opens with the Las Vegas Aces in a familiar spot: at the center of the league conversation. They are coming off a championship run, they will raise another banner, and they will do it while facing a Phoenix Mercury team eager to answer back after being swept in the 2025 Finals. That makes opening night more than a regular-season game.
It is a reminder of where Las Vegas stands and how much pressure comes with that place. This Aces team still looks built around the same core that has carried the franchise through its most successful stretch. A’ja Wilson remains the face of the team, with Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd giving Las Vegas elite top-end talent and experience.
The roster also has added depth through Brianna Turner and Stephanie Talbot, while Chennedy Carter has brought another scoring option into the mix. In this article, we will look at how the Aces got here, what their title history says about their standard, and what their 2026 season could look like. MORE: 2026 Indiana Fever preview, projections, & players to watch There is also a clear storyline around identity.
The Aces are not just trying to win games again; they are trying to keep their edge while other teams around them have reloaded and pushed to close the gap. Their preseason already hinted at both strengths and concerns, from Carter’s energy to shooting struggles against Dallas. That is why the opener matters so much.
It offers the first real look at whether Las Vegas can stay on top while the rest of the league keeps improving. The Aces enter the year with a familiar formula, but there are still questions about how smoothly the pieces will fit. Wilson remains the most important player on the floor, and the team’s ceiling still starts with her two-way impact.
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