The Las Vegas Aces kicked off their 2026 preseason with a matchup against the Japan Women's National Basketball Team. This game serves as a preparation for their title defense in the upcoming WNBA season.
Key points
Las Vegas Aces begin 2026 preseason against Japan National Team
Game held at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas
Aces previously faced Puerto Rico and China in preseason
Next preseason game is against Dallas on May 3
Regular season starts on May 9 against Phoenix Mercury
Mentioned in this story
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Las Vegas AcesJapan Women's National Basketball TeamWNBADallas
Aces vs. Japan
Melanie VanDerveer
The Las Vegas Aces are âall inâ defending their 2025 title! Their first preseason matchup of the 2026 season against the Japan Womenâs National Basketball Team gave the Aces an early test as they fine-tune their roster and build momentum heading into another highly anticipated championship run.
Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas was filled with excited fans ready to get the season going. This game marks the third time the Aces faced international competition for a preseason matchup. They hosted the Puerto Rico National Team in 2024 and the China National Team in 2018 and in 2022, when China was hosted by the Utah Starzz.
Next up â the Aces will travel to Texas to play their second and final preseason game against Dallas on Sunday, May 3. The regular season kicks off Saturday, May 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against the Phoenix Mercury, their 2025 WNBA Finals foe.
The Aces Are Back And Ready To Defend Their Title
Las Vegas Aces
Melanie VanDerveer
Eight players from the 2025 championship roster are back and ready to defend their title â Aâja Wilson, , , , , , , and .
Q&A
What was the result of the Las Vegas Aces vs Japan National Team preseason game?
The article does not specify the result of the game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Japan National Team.
When does the Las Vegas Aces' regular season start?
The Las Vegas Aces' regular season begins on Saturday, May 9, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Who are the Las Vegas Aces playing in their next preseason game?
The Las Vegas Aces will play their next preseason game against Dallas on Sunday, May 3.
What is the significance of the Aces' preseason matchup against international teams?
The Aces' preseason matchups against international teams help them fine-tune their roster and build momentum for their championship defense.
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During free agency, the Aces added two-time All-Defensive selection Brianna Turner, three-time Australian Olympian Stephanie Talbot, and 2020 All-Rookie Team member Chennedy Carter.
The team also had two draft picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The Aces selected Janiah Barker from Tennessee with the 29th overall pick and Jordan Orbi from Kentucky with the 44th overall pick.
Aces Vs. Japan National Team Preseason Game
Japan National Team
Melanie VanDerveer
As the 2026 season kicks off with the first preseason game for the Vegas team, they hosted an exciting matchup against the Japan National Team, who just came off a 2-3 record in the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. They are set to be one of 16 teams to compete in the 2026 FIBA World Cup this summer in Berlin.
The Japan National Team is led by former WNBA head coach Corey Gaines. The 13-player roster features 12 athletes who have competed in FIBA competitions. Japan was also recently selected to host the 2030 FIBA World cup, set to take place in Tokyo.
Las Vegas Aces Win Their First Preseason Game!
The first game of the 2026 season for the Aces ended with a win, 94-78.
Star player Wilson didnât play in Sunday nightâs game, listed as out for âright arm.â When coach Becky Hammon was asked when she expects Wilson back on the court, she said she doesnât know.
âIâll check in with her, her thing is if we were playing in a playoff series, she would be playing,â Hammon said during the postgame press conference.
In addition to Wilson being out for the preseason game, so was Dana Evans for her âlower left leg.â
When a question was asked about the next preseason game, Hammon said, âWeâre gonna use it as a way to get better. Weâll probably be a little bit more into a realistic lineup because weâre gonna have game right around the corner after that. But right now weâre still just moving pieces, figuring out pieces, what combinations work best so Iâm very open minded with all of them.â
âNever Foldâ Screening Is Set For May 5, 2026
Just ahead of the first game of the Acesâ regular season is the screening of their fourth documentary, âNever Fold: The 2025 Las Vegas Acesâ on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The documentary takes fans back to the 2025 season to see a different POV from what they likely saw, giving more insight into the incredible season the team had.
After the screening, the Aces will host a panel featuring head coach Becky Hammon, President and GM Nikki Fargas, and Vice President of Creative Storytelling Katie Morgan.
âI am so proud of the work the Aces Productions team has done on this documentary. âNever Foldâ gives fans a personal look into the ups and downs of the 2025 season,â Morgan said, according to a press release sent to The Blast. âFans always get to see what happens on the court, but to give them the opportunity to witness what happens behind the scenes is something special. This is the fourth documentary, but the first official screening event and we wanted to make sure the fans can be part of it.â
Fans can purchase tickets to the screening which includes a limited edition âNever Foldâ movie poster. The screening will be head at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster.
Aces Regular Season Begins May 9, 2026
The highly anticipated title-defending season for the Aces begins on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Theyâll be facing their 2025 WNBA Finals foe, the Phoenix Mercury, at T-Mobile Arena beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Before the game begins, the team will celebrate with a championship ring ceremony to honor the teamâs third WNBA title in four years.
