Aces’ Sydney Colson embraces ‘villain era’ after WNBA Finals

Sydney Colson and Kierstan Bell celebrate the Las Vegas Aces’ 2023 WNBA title. (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Sydney Colson, the guard for the Las Vegas Aces, surprised herself by becoming a trash-talker after their victory over the New York Liberty in the 2023 WNBA Finals. In a recent appearance on “The Daily Show,” Colson discussed her viral imitation of Sabrina Ionescu’s “night night” celebration and reflected on the impact of the championship series as a whole.

“It’s incredible. When I entered the league in 2011, I never could have imagined what it would become today. The arenas, the exposure, the success of the players – it’s truly amazing,” said Colson. “As a young Black player, it’s even more empowering to see women who look like me achieving greatness. It motivates me to keep pushing.”

While Colson received some backlash for her performance in the Finals, she didn’t let it bother her. In fact, she’s leaning into her newfound “villain era” and embracing the role. “I didn’t anticipate being in this position, but I don’t care about the haters,” she said. “They question how I ended up on ‘The Daily Show’ with only 2 points, but I’m just here to troll them.”

As for the rivalry between the Aces and the Liberty, Colson sees it as a healthy competition built on mutual respect. “It’s like having siblings or cousins you grew up with. You tease each other, but deep down, you still love one another,” she explained.