Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell Get Major Praise From Chelsea Gray Amid Championship Celebration

Two of the first three WNBA Finals games were tight (Las Vegas won Game 1 by three points, Game 3 by two, and took Game 2 at home by 13), but the Aces kept coming out on top against the Phoenix and took the title. Sounds like dominance, right? Not really when you hark back to the Aces’ semis against the Indiana Fever. As Fever insider Scott Agness noted on October 8: “Las Vegas Aces up 3-0, on the verge of sweeping Mercury in the first best-of-seven WNBA Finals. Without six players due to injuries, Fever split the first four games with LV last series… and forced OT in G5 down two more All-Stars.”

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Simply put, an injury-hit Fever squad pushed the Aces, who crushed the Mercury, a team considered among the season’s best, to the absolute limit. For that, the Aces might want to thank the Fever, as hinted at earlier. And now, Chelsea Gray is making sure to give them their flowers.

The previous games were instrumental in preparing the Aces for the Phoenix Mercury. In an interview with Sue Bird, Chelsea Gray noted, “Seattle and Indiana prepared us for Phoenix, honestly”.

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Gray continued her praise for the rival team players, saying, “…you have Indiana, super fast, with Kelsey Mitchell downhill. Defending in your grill, Lexie Hull. You have a presence inside with Aliyah Boston, that’s gonna be a bruiser. They’re aggressive defensively,” she said.

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And that brush-up with Fever’s and especially Aliyah Boston’s aggression prepared the Aces for a team that was notorious this season for causing injuries and being physical. “Then we get to Phoenix, that’s long, that’s versatile… but you also have AT, that’s kind of a bruiser, doesn’t really shoot from the outside, wants to get layups and push down the transition,” Gray said.

Kelsey Mitchell also drew specific praise from Gray: “Kelsey Mitchell downhill… defending in your grill… they’re aggressive defensively.”

Head coach Becky Hammon had echoed Gray’s views, crediting the Fever’s resolve in the game, in a postseason interview with The Ballers Magazine, saying, “Indiana played great. They had great individual performances, and they’re coached great. That’s a very resilient team that had just come off a tough series against Atlanta.” She added pointedly, “Instead of trying to take away from our credit, why don’t we give them credit?” Acknowledging the Fever’s effort was as much a nod to their growth as it was to the Aces’ ability to endure under pressure.

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Las Vegas Aces celebrate WNBA championship with parade The Las Vegas Aces marked their third WNBA championship with a grand victory parade celebration on October 17, 2025. The festivities had officially begun on the court itself, but the parade started along the iconic Las Vegas Strip. It featured both the players and staff, boarding open-top buses, marching on, like true warriors. The enthusiastic fans lined the streets. The parade halted at Toshiba Plaza in front of T-Mobile Arena, where a rally awaited the team.

At the rally, Aces stars, including A’ja Wilson, Becky Hammon, and Chelsea Gray, addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude for the fans’ unwavering support throughout the season. “This is a special, special group; we prayed together and were popping Campagne together,” A’ja Wilson said, reflecting on the team’s connection.

She became emotional when she spoke about Hammon, the gel who kept the team together. “She believed in us when no one did. We go nowhere without Becky Hammon.” The rally featured performances by artists Ludacris, Mýa, and Crime Mob, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.

It is definitely not over for Hammon either. “We should do it again next year,” she said, wearing her signature hoodie blazer, this one with “GRATITUDE” emblazoned in gold across the back. Hammon has been with the Aces for four seasons. She built this. “They came in and worked their tails off, no matter the circumstances,” she said. “This is one of the most resilient, high-character groups.”, she said in appreciation of the girls’ gang.

This win became the turning point of Las Vegas’ championship run. By the time the championship rally closed in Las Vegas, it was a moment of reflection for everything Gray and the Aces had to endure to achieve this win.

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Thanks””You are the best!!! Reading your articles are proof that your information is true and your heart is in it!!!!
In the past 7-10 days I have come across articles about Griner being suspended for life, has to give Olympic medals back and WNBA’s Commissioner has been fired!!!
I loved the article about little girl going to see Caitlin in Vegas!!!!
Keep up on your great reporting!!””Yes I always enjoy any thing to do with the WNBA woman’s basketball teams, keep up the great work very insightful news….I love it “”The Chicago Sky is my team, I’m alwayz screaming Angel Reese name. But I really enjoy the WNBA n all the teams. I’m just a girl loving girls bball!!””Outstanding editorial with a very open perspective that some people were only thinking about, but would never be bold enough to make the statements!!””Your team does a very good job on the ins/outs of the wnba.
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