The Las Vegas Aces are preparing for the 2026 WNBA season with key players returning from their 2025 championship roster. Fans are eager to see which familiar faces will be back to defend their title.
Evan Guerra
It’s almost time to fill the House with excited fans once again. And the question on everyone’s mind has likely been who’s re-signing with the Las Vegas Aces for another epic WNBA season?
After a championship run that cemented their place atop the league, the Aces head into the 2026 season with a familiar core. As Vegas looks to defend its title, attention turns to which key pieces from the championship roster will be back on the Strip—and ready for a fourth championship!
The Blast covered the 2025 season and will be running it back for the 2026 season. To make it easier to keep up with the roster, we’ve compiled a list of who re-signed (so far) and who was traded ahead of the 2026 WNBA season.
Evan Guerra
Selected No. 1 overall out of Notre Dame in 2019, Jackie Young steadily developed in her early seasons before emerging as one of the WNBA’s elite guards over the past four years. She’s earned four All-Star selections and back-to-back All-WNBA Second Team honors. Since 2022, she’s consistently averaged at least 15.8 points and 4.0 assists per game.
According to a press release sent to The Blast from the Aces organization, “Not only has Young won championships during her time with the Aces, the 27-year-old has won 176 career games, and counting, the most in WNBA history before turning 28.”
Aces president and GM Nikki Fargas said, “Jackie has been a foundational piece of our success here at the Aces. She brings an unmatched competitive drive and will to win that has led to raising three championship banners. She will continue to be a valuable asset to our roster with her re-signing with the Aces.”
Young said she is “incredibly grateful to the Aces organization and our amazing fans for their continued belief in me.” She continued, “From the moment I got drafted here, the Aces organization and entire Las Vegas community have made this place feel like home. I’m excited to get back to work and compete again for a championship.”
The Aces recently announced that they’ve re-signed Dana Evans, who in 2025 averaged 6.6 points and 2.2 assists while netting 36.6% from behind the arc.
“Dana was a fantastic addition to our roster last offseason, and we have the pleasure to bring her back in 2026,” Fargas said. “Her energy and toughness on both ends of the floor, along with her competitive spirit, brings a dynamic presence to the group.”
Evans shared that she’s “so excited and hungry to get back on the court and prove that I’m ready to compete.” She continued, “I’m so thankful for the entire Las Vegas community, my teammates, the staff, coaches and medical staff. I’m ready to contend for another championship.”
The Blast | Melanie VanDerveer
The “Point Gawd,” 11-year veteran chosen by Connecticut in the 2014 WNBA Draft, Chelsea Gray, has re-signed with the Aces.
“Chelsea is a pure example of a true champion,” Fargas said. “She sets the standard for what it means to compete and win at the highest level, and we cannot wait to see the Point Gawd back in an Aces uniform.”
Gray ranks No. 6 for assists and No. 10 for assists per game, numbers which rank second and first, respectively, in the franchise record book. She is 70 assists away from catching up to Aces head coach Becky Hammon’s franchise record 1,133 assists.
“The Las Vegas Aces are special. And I couldn’t imagine chasing history anywhere else,” Gray said. “I’m grateful to be able to continue building on this legacy for the fans and this amazing city.”
In her five years with the team, she’s “contributed 12.2 ppg, 6.0 apg, and 3.2 rpg, while netting 37.5% from 3-point in the regular season; and 15.0 ppg, 6.8 apg and 3.6 rpg with a deadly 42.5% behind the arc in 41 playoff games,” according to a press release sent to The Blast.
Thurman James/Cal Sport Media) Newscom/MEGA
The Aces have re-signed NaLyssa Smith for the 2026 season. Smith, who joined the team halfway through last season, is “super excited” to be returning to Sin City for another season.
“I’m super excited to be returning for a full year alongside the best players in the league and best coach in the league,” Smith said, according to a press release sent to The Blast. “I wanted to come back to take full advantage of my opportunity and chase another championship. The culture, the environment and the fans are something I’ve always dreamed of being a part of, and why wouldn’t I want to run it back another year!”
Smith was the No. 2 selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft by Indiana, and has averaged 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, while shooting 46.7% from the floor in her four years in the league.
“After joining us halfway through the season last year, NaLyssa made an immediate impact and quickly established herself as a vital asset to our roster,” Fargas shared. “Throughout our championship run, she illustrated how versatile and multifaceted her game can be, and we are excited to watch her expand those capabilities this season.”
Jewell Loyd has also re-signed with the Aces.
“Joining the Aces has been the perfect fit from day one. I’m thrilled to remain with this great organization and represent this city alongside my incredible teammates,” Loyd said. Fargas added, “Jewell is a solidified champion and elite competitor who embodies everything we value as an organization. She is a cornerstone talent in this league, and we are proud to keep her in Las Vegas on the cusp of our title defense this year.”
Loyd, a veteran guard who spent her first 10 seasons in the league in Seattle before moving to Vegas in 2025, averaged 10.4 ppg on 36.3% shooting from the field and 35.4% behind the arc as a starter. As a reserve, she bumped those numbers to 12.1 ppg, 42.3% from the field and 40.9% from 3-point.
According to a press release sent to The Blast, “Heading into the 2026 season, Loyd’s 6,027 career point total ranks No. 14 on the league’s all-time scoring sheet.” She ranks No. 9 for 3-pointers made, No. 10 for free throw percentage, No. 17 for free throws made,and No. 22 for field goals made.
Erica Denhoff/Cal Sport Media) Newscom/MEGA
Kierstan Bell is returning to the Aces for the 2026 season!
“KB has been an essential part of winning three championships here at the Aces,” Fargas said. “She is always willing to do what is needed for the team to win and we’re excited to have her back.”
Bell, drafted by the Aces at No. 11 overall in the 2022 WNBA Draft, spend the past four seasons in Vegas, averaging 3.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, and 0.5 apg.
“Vegassssss!! Super excited to get back to work and compete for another championship!” Bell said. “The love doesn’t go unnoticed and I’m blessed to be a part of something so special! Let’s rock.”
In 2022, she helped the team earn the franchise’s first-ever WNBA title, scoring a playoff-high 11 points against Phoenix. The following season, she “scored in double figures in 3 games and saw action in 8 playoff contests in the Aces eventual back-to-back championship.” Injured early in the 2024 season, she only saw action in 7 regular season and playoff games combined. In 2025, she moved into the starting rotation on July 27 and scored a career-high 19 points against Dallas.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus is returning to Vegas after signing as a free agent with the Aces in 2025.
Parker-Tyus gave birth to her second child, Yoshua, in July 2025 and returned to the court less than two months later, appearing in the final two games of the regular season and six playoff games.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cheyenne back to Las Vegas this season,” Fargas said. “She is a seasoned veteran who is an excellent teammate, great leader and knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.”
Parker-Tyus said the team showed “loyalty” and she’s doing the same.
“The Las Vegas Aces has always been a top contending team. The grit and talent of the players and the mindset and ability of the coach was a no brainer for me during free agency,” she said. “When I had not much to give last season, they showed loyalty. It’s only right I do the same, I’ve been waiting to play for Becky and play with these players, so I’m glad I finally get to do that, in my full form. I’m excited to win another championship.”
Melanie VanDerveer
Three 2025 Aces players will not be returning to the roster in 2026 – Aaliyah Nye was selected by the Toronto Tempo in the expansion draft, Megan Gustafson is headed to Portland Fire, and Kiah Stokes signed with the Golden State Valkyries.
The Aces had the No. 29 and No. 44 picks in the WNBA Draft on Monday night. They chose Janiah Barker from the University of Tennessee and Jordan Obi from Kentucky.
The Aces also signed Briana Turner and Stephanie Talbot.
And while we have a great picture of how this season is going to look, there’s also another player that everyone’s anxiously waiting to hear about – A’ja Wilson!
Let’s go, Aces! It’s almost time to run it back and defend the championship title. Fans are more than ready for another electric season in Sin City!
The Las Vegas Aces All In: Who’s Returning From The 2025 Championship Squad? first appeared on The Blast
The article lists key players who have re-signed with the Las Vegas Aces for the 2026 season, maintaining the core of their championship roster.
The Aces have made several roster adjustments, including re-signings and trades, as they prepare to defend their championship title.
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