WNBA legend Becky Hammon leaving Spurs to become head coach of Las Vegas Aces,

WNBA legend Becky Hammon is returning to the league to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, according to Shams Charania and Chantel Jennings of The Athletic. Multiple teams had made offers to lure Hammon away from the NBA, where she’s been an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs since 2014. 

Hammon is expected to finish the NBA season with the Spurs. Their final regular-season game is set for April 10, and they are currently in 10th place in the Western Conference, which means a deep playoff run is unlikely. It’s possible that Hammon could miss a portion of training camp with the Aces, but she should be done with her NBA responsibilities well before WNBA opening day on May 6. 

It is not surprising that Hammon has finally become a head coach — she’s been up for multiple NBA jobs over the past few years, and was reportedly a finalist for the Portland Trail Blazers’ gig last summer — but no one expected her to take over in Vegas. First and foremost, there wasn’t a vacancy. Bill Laimbeer had been the head coach of the Aces since 2018, and there were no expectations he was going to leave. (He could now reportedly take a front-office position with the club.) 

In addition, there are multiple WNBA teams still looking for a new coach this offseason, including the New York Liberty. Hammon spent the first eight seasons of her playing career with the Liberty, making three All-Star Games and one All-WNBA Team as she helped the team to three Finals appearances.  

The Aces, though, decided to make a push for Hammon and were able to get the deal over the finish line by offering a five-year contract that will make her the highest-paid coach in the WNBA, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hammon, who did play for the Aces franchise when they were the San Antonio Silver Stars, will also get a chance to coach one of the most talented rosters in the league. 

A’ja Wilson, the 2020 MVP and one of the best young playes, is a restricted free agent, but she’ll surely be back. As will veteran point guard Chelsea Gray, reigning Sixth Player of the Year Kelsey Plum, two-time Sixth Player of the Year Dearica Hamby and former No. 1 overall pick Jackie Young. The Aces will also have big decisions to make about free agents Liz Cambage, Angel McCoughtry and Riquna Williams. 

But regardless of what they do about the latter three, the Aces will enter 2022 with high expectations….