Tom Brady, Barack Obama and Billie Jean King lead tributes to Las Vegas Aces after WNBA title win
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Tom Brady, Barack Obama and Billie Jean King lead the tribute to Becky Hammon’s Las Vegas Aces after their first WNBA title win
- The famous trio led the congratulations pouring in for the Aces
- Las Vegas won the city’s first championship with a 78-71 win over Connecticut
- Legendary WNBA player-turned-coach Becky Hammon won the title in her first campaign as head coach – the first coach to do so since the league’s inaugural season
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Despite an eventful day for Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s quarterback Tom Brady, he, along with Barack Obama and Billie Jean King, celebrated the Las Vegas Aces first-ever WNBA title.
Las Vegas never had a professional sports champion until Sunday, when the Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun on the road, 78-71, in Game 4.
Brady tweeted late Sunday night; ‘Let’s go! @LVAces @Kelseyplum10 @WNBA.”
Former President Barack Obama joined in on the well-wishes, writing on Twitter: “Congratulations to the @LVAces on their first WNBA title! It was nice to see Coach @BeckyHammon and this team play this season.”
Tom Brady, Barack Obama and Billie Jean King all showed their love to the Las Vegas Aces
Tennis great Billie Jean King said: “Congratulations to the @LVAces and everyone involved with the organization, the fans, the city of Las Vegas and to @BeckyHammon, the first head coach to win a #WNBA title on their debut season since the first championship in 1997 #WNBAFinals.’
Chelsea Gray scored 20 points to lead the Las Vegas Aces to their inaugural WNBA title after going 9-of-13 from the floor.
She was named Finals MVP after averaging 18.3 points over the series.
Las Vegas celebrated their first WNBA title after a thrilling 78-71 road win in Game 4
Vegas finished the last game of the series on an 8-0 run. When the buzzer sounded, MVP A’ja Wilson, who played every minute of the game, grabbed the ball and stomped on the ground before being mobbed by her teammates.
‘We champions! We champions! We champions!’ Wilson yelled at teammates as they pulled up their championship hats and t-shirts for the trophy ceremony.
Riquna Williams had 17 points for Vegas, Kelsey Plum added 16 points, Jackie Young had 13 and Wilson added 11 more points with 14 rebounds.
The Aces players celebrated in style after winning Las Vegas’ first-ever professional sports title
Aces coach Becky Hammon failed to earn a title in her standout WNBA career, but on Sunday her decades-long quest was finally accomplished.
Hammon left an assistant coach position with Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs to take over in Las Vegas. The move paid off.
“They’re incredible on the pitch, but they’re incredible people first and foremost,” Hammon said.
“They care about each other. They invest in each other. It was an absolute honor to be their coach. I saw excellence and wanted to be a part of it.”
Las Vegas Raiders owner, Mark Davis (L), was on hand when his Aces won instead of Vegas
Hammon also paid tribute to former Aces coach Bill Laimbeer, who was on the floor for the ceremony: “He put this team together and saw the pieces.”
Aces owner Mark Davis, who also owns the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, was not with his soccer team on Sunday.
He was in Connecticut to get a trophy. He hoisted it up and then gave it to merry players who did the same.
“Las Vegas, we are world champions,” Davis said.
Aces coach Becky Hammon celebrated claiming the WNBA title in her first season in the role