Kalin Sipes – The Sporting Tribune
Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) passes the ball past Chicago Sky Sevgi Uzun during first half of WNBA game against Chicago Sky on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Aces
LAS VEGAS — Jackie Young muddled her way through a five-point first half Tuesday night, quietly contributing as the Aces built an eight-point halftime lead over the Chicago Sky.
In the blink of an eye, midway through the third, Young pulled up from long range, gave the universal WNBA signal for a 3-pointer, and sent the announced crowd of 15,640 into hysteria as the Aces began pulling away during their 92-61 demolition of Chicago.
Young finished with a co-team high 15 points, along with Jewell Loyd, as she authored her 37th double-digit scoring performance in 43 games.
Young also finished with seven assists, four in the first half, which is part of the reason she had a quiet 20 minutes to open the game.
“I love playing alongside her because she’s so selfless,” A’ja Wilson said. “She’s willing to take herself out sometimes, to help others. And I know that’s hard when you can look at a defender and be like, ‘Well, I love my matchup. I can go do this myself.’
“But she is always willing to be the one who just saves the day in the background, and that’s what I love the most.”
CO-PILOT
Amidst their 15-game winning streak, the sidebar narrative for the Aces has been Wilson’s domination of everyone and every team that steps in the way of Las Vegas’ quest for a third championship in four years.
But while Wilson has been the recipient of most of the latest flower deliveries, the reigning MVP is emphatic about one thing.
“There’s no Aces going on these runs (and) there’s no Aces winning championships without a piece of Jackie Young,” Wilson said. “What she’s done with our team, how she helps us, not just on the court, and the little things that she does, but on both sides of the basketball every single night, is something that I don’t ever take for granted when it comes to Jackie Young.”
She’s not wrong.
If Wilson is piloting this year’s Aces charter flight into the postseason, Young has been the co-pilot, helping the Aces navigate their way from outside the playoff picture to a potential No. 2 seed in the postseason, which begins Sunday.
Young, who turns 28 on Sept. 16, is averaging 16.5 points per game this season, second on the team behind Wilson’s 23.4
“Jackie’s been great all year,” coach Becky Hammon said. “She has to be in some of these all-WNBA teams. She’s a huge part of the motor that makes us go.”
It’s a motor Young said she fine-tuned after last season.
One of her biggest emphases during the offseason was to get her body back to where she wanted it after struggling through an injury-plagued campaign in 2024. She relied on the team’s lead rehabilitation specialist, Jerrica Thomas, pushing for a hard rehab while staying aggressive with her training on the court and in the locker room.
“She was there with me throughout it all and kind of helped get me back to where I needed to be,” Young said. “She knows how I am. She knows I love to be in the gym. Once I was back healthy, just getting back into great shape, and back to who I was … now I’m just playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of energy, having fun.
“And we’re winning.”
GIVING HERSELF GRACE
As for the all-WNBA chatter, Young said she takes it in stride, though she doesn’t think of accolades. A four-time All-Star, Young said she credits her teammates for reminding her to appreciate not just her accomplishments, but what she’s meant to the franchise.
She’s always been the quiet one, hence her nickname: “Silent Assassin.”
She admits it took her a few years to find her way in the league, but gives a nod to Wilson for standing by her side and never wavering
“Sometimes (I) kind of think about how far I’ve come,” she said. “I think it’s important to kind of enjoy that a little bit and try to be where your feet are and be present and soak it in a little bit. Because this journey is fun and special, and I’ve worked really hard to get here, so I think it’s about just embracing it, enjoying it.
“But shout out to my teammates, they are always instilling confidence in me. So I just really appreciate them. And A’ja, of course. She took me under her wing as soon as I got into the league, and she’s been by my side ever since. … And it’s cool because she’s super special. It’s who she is as a person, too. So, yeah, it’s cool to see her do what she’s doing, but give everybody else their flowers, too.”
As one of the best two-way players in the WNBA, Young deserves all the flowers Wilson, Hammon and the rest of the Aces are willing to throw her way.
“People are starting to understand what Jackie Young brings to the table,” Wilson said. “And I love that she’s doing that at her own pace, and she knows that I’m going to always be behind her back 100%. We are not the franchise that we are without Jackie Young.”
Leave a Reply