LAS VEGAS (AP) — Anything short of a WNBA championship is considered a disappointment for the Aces, so changes almost certainly are coming after Las Vegas was swept out of the semifinals by Golden State on Friday night.
Whether that change involves the Big Three is the Aces' biggest question entering the offseason because five-time All-Star guard Jackie Young is a free agent.
She averaged career highs in points per game (18.9) and assists (6.8) to go with a 4.4-rebounding average and shooting percentages of 48.8 from the floor and 38.3 from 3-point range.
“I think she had a career year this year,” coach Becky Hammon said. “Had some unbelievable performances throughout the season, so obviously it’s a big priority that we retain her services. We’ll see what those thoughts look like, but I know what it looks like from our end. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to her decision."
If Young returns, she will rejoin a core that includes five-time MVP A'ja Wilson and six-time All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray that has been instrumental in winning three of the past four titles.
While Wilson clearly wants Young to return, she also wants to be mindful of not being overbearing while trying to persuade her to re-sign.
“I’m constantly in Jackie’s ear,” Wilson said. “I know when she needs that big sister, but also when she needs that space. So going into this offseason, I’m just going to be me. I’m not going change too much because that’s not what Jackie needs."
If Young leaves, the Aces could be aggressive in going after a big-name free agent such as Indiana's Kelsey Mitchell or Minnesota's Napheesa Collier.
Mitchell expressed frustration a week ago about playing in the glare that comes with having Caitlin Clark as a teammate. Clark made the case on Thursday for keeping Mitchell, which would again give the Fever one of the league's top backcourts.
Even if Young comes back, that doesn't mean the Aces will sit still.
“We’re going to make some adjustments, we’re going to make some moves, try to address our weaknesses,” Hammon said shortly after Friday night's 87-77 overtime loss to the Valkyries. “That’s not a question to answer right now. There’s a lot of things coming through my head.”
Top of mind was not having a good enough defense, and that likely will be a top priority for Hammon and team president and general manager Nikki Fargas. Hammon said the lack of an elite defense is a major reason the Aces are already into their offseason.
But it's not so simple to improve just one area.
Hammon lamented injuries that ended NaLyssa Smith's season and limited Jewell Loyd, Stephanie Talbot and Dana Evans.
“This is why repeating is hard,” she said. “There has to be some things that go your way. You have to get some lucky breaks, and we’ve been pretty lucky around here. We’ve done some good things and made our own breaks at times. Other times, it’s tougher to make those little things happen for you. And there’s some things that happen that are completely out of your control.”
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) talks with guard Jackie Young (0) on the bench in the final seconds of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball semifinals against the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Bruno Guimarães came off the bench to score on his home debut as defending champion Arsenal recovered to beat Leeds 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Guimarães netted just four minutes after being sent on. It was the Brazil midfielder’s second goal for Arsenal — he scored against Sunderland last month — after joining from Newcastle in the offseason, and he celebrated by diving into the crowd.
It was the perfect flourish for Arsenal to celebrate coach Mikel Arteta signing a contract extension this week and bounce back from a hefty defeat at Brighton before the extended three-week break for internationals.
“This is the level for Arsenal, every week, every game, every minute, every action that you have to be at," Arteta said. “Against Brighton (Guimarães) wasn’t at that level, and today he was much better, and he can still be much better, and that’s what we have to demand.
“He’s still not in the best condition because he did not have a preseason. But he’s done it twice, (scoring from the bench) against Sunderland and now against Leeds, and that’s the quality needed at this level to continue to win.”
Arsenal moved level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table ahead of City's tricky trip to Liverpool on Sunday. The game at Anfield is City's first since being found guilty of large-scale financial wrongdoing in the biggest scandal in Premier League history. City is appealing.
It was a first defeat for Leeds, which was hoping to leapfrog Arsenal into second — courtesy of a better goal difference — with a win.
The visitors frustrated Arsenal for large swathes of the match, defending well and looking dangerous on the counterattack.
Leeds scored in the 55th minute. Gabriel Gudmundsson rolled the ball across the area and it went past the flailing hand of a sprawling David Raya and through to James Justin, who blasted it into the roof of the net.
That seemed to spark Arsenal into life and it equalized just seven minutes later as Ben White headed a cross back to Riccardo Calafiori, who bundled in from close range.
The sixth Arsenal goal for Calafiori, who joined the club in 2024, was the defender’s first at home.
Arteta made a triple change moments later, sending on Guimarães, Victor Gyokeres and Jurrien Timber and the comeback was complete in the 70th with a lovely team goal.
A free kick was taken quickly and it was flicked between several players before Declan Rice teed up Guimarães to drive into the bottom left corner from outside the area.
Tottenham snatched a 1-1 draw at Manchester United despite with 10 men, although it is still without a win in six matches despite a $400 million summer spend.
Rodrigo Bentancur was sent off in the 78th minute for headbutting Luke Shaw after the United defender angrily pushed him following a couple of sliding tackles.
At that point, Tottenham was already 1-0 down after Bryan Mbeumo broke the deadlock five minutes earlier with what was only United's second shot on target.
United fans started chanting that Tottenham were “going down with City” in reference to potential sanctions for their bitter rival.
However, Tottenham leveled in stoppage time as terrible defending saw Dominic Solanke get away from Lisandro Martinez to nod Sandro Tonali’s cross into the back of the net.
Jordan Henderson became Chelsea’s oldest English goal-scorer as the 36-year-old netted a brace in a 5-1 win over Bournemouth.
Henderson scored after just 66 seconds and turned provider almost immediately, setting up Morgan Rogers for a deflected shot that put Chelsea 2-0 up after just 149 seconds.
João Pedro added another in the opening minute of the second half and Evanilson grabbed one back for Bournemouth. Chelsea hadn’t kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since Jan. 21.
João Pedro settled any nerves in Stamford Bridge with Chelsea’s fourth before Henderson also doubled his tally with a superb free kick.
Brighton consolidated third place with a 2-0 win at Sunderland, despite playing most of the second half with 10 men after Pascal Struijk was shown a straight red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Maxim De Cuyper scored moments before Struijk’s dismissal and Jaouen Hadjam sealed the match in stoppage time.
Fulham appeared set for its first win in the Premier League but two very late goals — from Abdoul Ouattara and Dara O’Shea — saw Ipswich snatch a 2-1 victory.
Brentford remained unbeaten after drawing at Aston Villa 2-2.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Tottenham's Rodrigo Bentancur, left, clashes with Manchester United's Luke Shaw during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Tottenham's Dominic Solanke, right, celebrates with Savio after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Manchester, England, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Chelsea's Jordan Henderson, third from left, scores their side's first goal during the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Jordan Henderson warms up before the English Premier League match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)
Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leeds United in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. ( John Walton/PA via AP)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta, left, leaves the field with Leeds' head coach Daniel Farke at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leeds United in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Leeds react disappointed after the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leeds United in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leeds United in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes, centre, challenges for the ball with Leeds' James Justin, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Leeds United in London, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
