55°F
weather icon Clear
Las Vegas, NV
Aces

Report: Aces coach gets permission to discuss NBA vacancy

Becky Hammon, Aces address Raptors' coaching rumors
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon shouts at her team from the sidelines during the second ...
Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon shouts at her team from the sidelines during the second half in Game 3 of a WNBA basketball final series against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Uncasville, Conneticut. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
More Stories
Aces’ new assistant coach will focus on improving team’s defense
Aces considering options after losing GM, 2 assistant coaches
Aces head coach Becky Hammon laughs on the bench with assistant coach Tyler Marsh against ...
Second Aces assistant leaves to become WNBA head coach
Aces parting ways with general manager in front office shake-up
By Andy Yamashita Las Vegas Review-Journal
April 27, 2023 - 6:14 pm
 
Updated May 2, 2023 - 8:33 pm

Aces coach Becky Hammon was granted permission to speak with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors about the team’s head coaching vacancy, according to an ESPN report.

Hammon led the Aces to the first championship in franchise history and was named 2022 WNBA Coach of the Year during her first season with the team. She also spent eight of her 16 WNBA seasons with the San Antonio Stars, the Aces’ predecessor, and is the only player in franchise history whose number has been retired.

After finishing her playing career, Hammon spent eight seasons as an NBA assistant for San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Hammon has interviewed for NBA head coaching jobs in the past. She was considered a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers’ job in 2021 but lost out to Chauncey Billups.

The Aces’ season begins May 20. Sunday is the first day of training camp.

ESPN reported that several top NBA assistants will also interview with the Raptors, including Golden State’s Kenny Atkinson, Milwaukee’s Charles Lee, Phoenix’s Kevin Young, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson, Sacramento’s Jordi Fernandez, Memphis’ Darko Rajakovic and Miami’s Chris Quinn.

Contact reporter Andy Yamashita at ayamashita@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ANYamashita on Twitter.

THE LATEST
Aces center A'ja Wilson holds up her WNBA MVP trophy before game one of a WNBA playoff game bet ...
Aces star to get number retired by alma mater
By Callie Fin / RJ

Aces star A’ja Wilson added another accolade to her impressive resume Tuesday, as it was announced her jersey will be retired by her alma mater.

 
3 Aces veterans not retiring, open to return
By Callie Fin / RJ

Tiffany Hayes, Sydney Colson and Alysha Clark are all age 35 or over and free agents, but they expressed hopes to come back to the Aces next season.

 
Aces lose assistant coach to Golden State expansion team
By Callie Fin / RJ

Aces lead assistant coach Natalie Nakase is leaving the organization to become head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA expansion team announced Thursday.