Why the Las Vegas Aces ‘let loose’ after WNBA title

Kelsey Plum was in full celebration mode at the Las Vegas Aces’ 2023 WNBA championship parade. (Jeff Bottari/NBAE via Getty Images)

For two consecutive years, the Las Vegas Aces have sealed the WNBA season as champions. It wasn’t until their second title win that Kelsey Plum allowed herself to truly acknowledge the accomplishment.

“I feel like for the first time in my career, I really have allowed it to soak in,” Plum shared with Just Women’s Sports.

The celebrations were nothing short of electrifying after Las Vegas became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002. From a parade down the Strip to a personalized concert invitation from Usher, the Aces truly basked in their glory.

“We have a lot of fun together,” Plum said. “And I think that’s why people really love watching us play, because that kind of permeates onto the court.

“I’m not going to lie, it was a long year for everyone, not just collectively but individually. And so I think that people let loose a little bit when we finally won, which, to me, I wasn’t mad at. I thought it was awesome.”

To reach that point, the Aces first had to do battle with the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals. Plum called the attention and the rivalry “great for the game,” highlighting the investment made by both franchises that has elevated the league overall.

After the WNBA Finals and ensuing celebrations, Plum faced a quick turnaround for USA Basketball’s fall training camp, which is being held from Nov. 7-9 in Atlanta. The intense 40-game WNBA season and deep playoff run presented what she called a “brutal” challenge.

Plum, an Olympic gold medalist from the 2021 Games in Tokyo, is now poised to compete for a roster spot on the traditional 5×5 team for the 2024 Games in Paris.

Following the USA Basketball camp, Plum will partner with DICK’S Sporting Goods for their Holiday Shopping Sprint, where she will team up with a lucky winner for an exhilarating three-minute, $5,000 shopping spree. She’s determined to give her best, promising to take the event very seriously.