It’s June, which means it’s time for the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup. Each team competes in this in-season tournament, where the prize is a pool of $500,000. Additionally, each team selects a charity or initiative to donate additional funds to with each win. Last season, the Aces supported Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada, which advocates for and defends reproductive rights in Nevada. This year, they are supporting the Anti-Defamation League in Nevada, which, they noted in a now-deleted tweet, reflects the WNBA’s values of justice, equality, equity, inclusion and community empowerment.
The Aces’ 75-70 win over the Storm was their first of the Cup, putting them up 1-0 in the tournament standings. Their rematch against Seattle comes after a 102-82 loss at the beginning of the season.
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Aside from the starting five, the Aces’ bench players are making waves as the season progresses on. Rookie guard Aaliyah Nye is getting her footing as the season progresses. Center Elizabeth Kitley is getting into shape after rehabilitating a torn ACL. But one player is making a splash, especially coming off the game against Seattle: Dana Evans.
Evans joined the Aces on Feb. 2, after a trade involving the Chicago Sky. In return, the Sky received two second-round draft picks, which they used to select Maddy Westbeld and Aicha Coulibaly.
Evans started 12 games with the Sky, playing in a total of 39. She averaged 7.2 points per game, scoring a total of 279 points in 2024. 2023 was her best season with the Sky, averaging 9 points per game and scoring 350 points.
In her last season with Chicago, Evans dealt with inconsistency and other factors. After what appeared to be a breakout season, former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon appeared to put her game on pause, with Evans’ usage varying widely. The trade to the Aces was a fresh start for Evans, and Las Vegas became the place where she could grow her game and confidence.
In just six games with the Aces, Evans already has 40 points, averaging 6.7 points per game, and 15 assists. Despite the Aces’ 92-78 loss to the New York Liberty, Evans had a strong start to her season against the defending champions. She scored scored 10 points off the bench, along with a block, three assists and a rebound.
“Dana, she felt some type of way,” A’ja Wilson told reporters after practice on Wednesday. “and I love that. When people can take things like that personal and want to show up and be better than what they were, I love having those types of people in locker room and Dana was just that.”
The Aces are known for being a tight-knit group. In almost every video posted on their pages, the team appears to be having fun. The close knit group cheers each other on, whether they’re on the court or the bench. This kind of support can be a mental boost for Evans, especially under the leadership of Wilson.
In her short time in Las Vegas so far, Evans has shown consistent effort off the bench. Against the Connecticut Sun, Evans had five points and three assists. She also had five points against the Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks. She managed six points in the 102-82 loss against Seattle, along with two rebounds.
“I would say getting to the basket and finishing,” Evans told The Next after practice when asked what she’s improving on this season. “I feel like I’m getting to my spots, I’m getting where I want, I just gotta make them, and be more physical. I gotta create that contact before they create it against me.”
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In the Aces’ four road games, Evans averaged 7.5 points and 2.8 assists per game. Evans says her confidence is growing day by day.
”Especially with the practices, [I’m] just getting really confident within the offense,” Evans said. “Defensively, I need to use that to get going. I feel like when I’m in people’s stuff and making them turn the ball over, that gets the team going, it gets me going too. I think just setting the tone with that, everything else will follow.”
On the defensive end, Evans is making her presence known. She currently has three rebounds off the bench this season, one being defensive and two being offensive. She had two steals, both in the last two games. While she has yet to block a shot, the season is still young.
Evans and the Aces are set to take on the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday, where they will face former teammate Kate Martin in their second game of the Commissioner’s Cup. Tip off is set for 12 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcasted on ABC and ESPN+.
