{
  "id": 12601864,
  "title": "The Fever have their Big 3. Becoming the Aces is the hard part",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/the-fever-have-their-big-3-becoming-the-aces-is-the-hard-part",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T10:06:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fever-big-3-becoming-aces-100643329.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a candid 20-minute end-of-season interview, Indiana Fever COO and general manager Amber Cox declined to comment on any offseason moves she made, simply offering a brief glance at the reporter. Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon echoed Cox's response – after dethroning Indiana in Game 3 of their playoff series – when asked about any similarities between the two teams. \"No,\" Hammon asserted bluntly. \"I think that team has great potential, but... it's different.\"\n\nThe Fever's \"Big 3\" – Kelsey Mitchell (drafted No. 2 overall in 2018), Aliyah Boston (2023 No. 1 pick), and Caitlin Clark (2024 No. 1 pick) – were selected through the draft. In contrast, the Aces' \"Big 3\" of Aja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray were already in place when Hammon assumed the coaching position in 2022. Hammon noted that the Fever will need to evolve to become a perennial champion like the Aces, who enjoyed success in their first three seasons with consecutive No. 1 overall picks.\n\nWhile both teams boast offensive firepower and a competitive drive, the Aces possess a unique combination of experienced players and youthful talent. The Aces have seen success with back-to-back No. 1 overall picks, Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird, and Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart, who both led their teams to championships in their third seasons together. For the Fever, the standout combination is the pairing of Mitchell and Clark, who combined for an impressive 47.0 points per game this season, earning them both Associated Press first-team All-WNBA honors.\n\nThe Fever's frontcourt has promise with Mitchell's exceptional two-way skills and Boston's proven scoring ability. Both players have won Rookie of the Year awards and have the destructive chemistry that Aja Wilson, a four-time MVP, brings to the frontcourt. However, the Aces' experience edge, with their trio having a combined 184 WNBA playoff appearances, gives them a significant advantage.\n\nIndiana Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen, who won a WNBA title with the Washington Mystics in 2019, emphasized the importance of a cohesive team mentality. She highlighted the importance of role players like Lexie Hull and Makayla Timpson in complementing the Big 3, stating that the team's success lies in their collective desire to compete and win, regardless of individual accolades.",
  "summary": "Becky Hammon is correct when she says the Fever need to evolve to become perennial champion like the Aces. Here's how the teams compare.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}