“It’s cool to, just like, to be able and look back and see how much I’ve accomplished,” said Young after her 30-point game against the Golden State Valkyries, “how far I’ve come since, you know, my rookie year, my first three years in the league.”
Young was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, going to the Aces from Notre Dame. That same draft class consisted of Teaira McCowan from Mississippi State, Arike Ogunbowale from Notre Dame, and Napheesa Collier from Connecticut.
Young is currently in her seventh year as an Ace, and has become a critical player within their starting system. She’s earned the nicknames “special agent zero” and “the silent assassin” due to her skills going under the radar.
In her debut season, the Aces were led by head coach Bill Laimbeer. The Aces made it to the semifinals of the playoffs, going 21-13. They lost to the Washington Mystics in a 3-1 series. She ended her rookie season with 225 points, 111 rebounds, 153 assists, 26 steals and 12 blocks.
2022 put the Aces in the spotlight, with them winning the Commissioner’s Cup tournament and their first WNBA championship. In that season, Young had 542 points, coming to a total of 1,398 points in her WNBA career. She also earned her first All-Star appearance.
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In their second championship year, Young earned her second All-Star appearance after scoring 704 points, having 160 rebounds, 151 assists, 52 steals, and 5 blocks. Those 704 points put her at 2,102 points.
In 2024, the Aces fell short in the semifinals to their rival and current defending champions, the New York Liberty. Throughout that season, Young had 583 points, gaining a career total of 2,685 points.
2025 has been a different season for the Aces, as they’ve faced more adversity and challenges. A’ja Wilson was injured twice, but Young stepped up into that leadership position.
“It’s next woman up,” said Becky Hammon before their game against the Dallas Wings, on June 13, “and it’s an opportunity for somebody else to get time.”
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Wilson first went out against the Los Angeles Sparks with a concussion. Young took the lead in point scoring, dropping 34 points in their 97-89 loss.
The second time Wilson went out was in their second matchup against the Liberty. She fell on her wrist and was ruled out for the rest of the game. As the Aces’ point leader went out, Young stepped up. She led the game with 19 points, hitting the 3,000 point mark.
“Shoutout to my teammates,” said Young after their game against the Valkyries, “they’re always giving me the ball and instill a lot of confidence in me, especially, you know, after the last game.”
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Despite the loss, there was still something to celebrate. Young admitted she didn’t even know she was close to 3,000 points, and she goes out there to help her team win.
“I mean, I actually didn’t even know that I was close to that,” said Young, “but it’s cool. … I mean, the coaches believe in me, my teammates believe in me, I just have to have that same belief in myself.”
This is the first of many milestones for the 2025 Las Vegas Aces. After their 104-102 win against the Golden State Valkyries, two more Aces hit milestones, including Dana Evans and Chelsea Gray.
The Aces play their final game before going into the All-Star break. They take on the Dallas Wings at 5 p.m. PST. The game will be live on WNBA League Pass, as the Aces look to hit more milestones and gain more accolades.
