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The Las Vegas Aces<\/a> are taking a more selective approach to their roster building this year, and even fans have taken notice.<\/p>\n \u201cDo the Aces have the smallest training camp roster?\u201d one user posted on X.com on Saturday, the eve of training camps opening around the league.<\/p>\n \u201cNope, (we\u2019re) the biggest,\u201d guard Chennedy Carter<\/a> replied, adding a sleeping emoji.<\/p>\n nope we the biggest 😴<\/p>\n \u2014 H O L L Y W O O D 🛬 (@ChennedyCarter) April 18, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/center><\/p>\n The response was a perfect illustration of the group that the Aces\u2019 front office \u2014 led by president and general manager Nikki <\/a>Fargas<\/a>, along with head coach Becky Hammon \u2014 have assembled to attempt a second set of back-to-back WNBA championships.<\/p>\n The 13-player roster may look like a small group on paper, but it\u2019s certainly not a weak one.<\/p>\n Four-time MVP A\u2019ja Wilson headlines eight returners<\/a> that will come back together at the Aces\u2019 Henderson headquarters on Sunday after a fast and furious free agency period spurred by the league\u2019s new collective bargaining agreement.<\/p>\n In addition to retaining the key players from its third WNBA title run in four years, the Aces added players like Carter, three-time Australian Olympian Stephanie Talbot and two-time WNBA All-Defense honoree Brianna Turner. They\u2019ll be joined by rookies Janiah Barker and Jordan Obi, whom the Aces selected in last week\u2019s WNBA <\/a>Draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, even with just 11 players boasting professional experience, the Aces\u2019 training camp roster is likely the most decorated in the league.<\/p>\n Combined, the group has 20 WNBA titles, 24 All-Star nods, seven All-Rookie Team appearances, 14 All-WNBA honors and seven WNBA All-Defensive Team awards. Not to mention eight Olympic gold medals between five players.<\/p>\n Securing a powerhouse group doesn\u2019t come cheap under the new CBA, which increased salaries thanks to a revenue sharing model and $7 million salary cap (up from $1.5 million in 2025).<\/p>\n After years of team-friendly deals, Wilson signed a historic three-year, nearly $5 million supermax deal to stay with the Aces. Meanwhile, guard Jackie Young inked a one-year, standard max $1.19 million contract<\/a> and Gray agreed to a three-year deal<\/a> worth around a million a year.<\/p>\n With the core rightfully cashing in, plenty of the Aces\u2019 role players took pay cuts.<\/p>\n Carter, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Brianna Turner and Kierstan Bell are all on training camp contracts \u2014 which is just jargon for a one-year, unprotected contract at the applicable minimum based on a player\u2019s years of service.<\/p>\n For Parker-Tyus, who was a 2023 WNBA All-Star and once the highest paid player on the Atlanta Dream, the money isn\u2019t the focus.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thankful,\u201d Parker-Tyus told the Review-Journal after she re-signed. \u201cI want to win. And I know what it takes, I know it means sacrifice. I\u2019m willing to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n After the WNBA draft, Fargas was asked what she and the Aces front office had to say to get players to sign for less than they might earn elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cThe conversations are really about the culture,\u201d Fargas said. \u201cThis is a special place, and we want each of these women to feel valued. We want their voices to be heard, while coach (Becky Hammon) is also pushing them to be the best on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n Fargas went on to say Aces\u2019 state-of-the-art facilities and fervent fan base helps players want to be part of the organization without much convincing.<\/p>\n Like icing on top of the cake, the Aces\u2019 big-ticket players make a sales pitch without even opening their mouths.<\/p>\n \u201cI look at NaLyssa Smith, who is going to be a really good post player in this league \u2013 she\u2019s playing alongside A\u2019ja Wilson. And iron sharpens iron,\u201d Fargas said. \u201cThat\u2019s only going to improve her game. Then when you have a player like Chelsea Gray, another great leader, Jackie Young, Jewell Lloyd; I mean, these are Olympians. They pour into them. They make them feel like they\u2019re part of this team.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, Fargas doesn\u2019t take anyone on the team\u2019s roster for granted.<\/p>\n \u201cThat speaks volumes to the character of the young ladies who decided to come back and said let\u2019s go get another championship,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Last offseason, the Aces entered training camp with 17 players and had to make a lot of cuts to get to their final roster.<\/p>\n During that process, Hammon lamented the difficulty of developing players with the league\u2019s small roster size of 12.<\/p>\n In almost a direct answer to her plea, the WNBA created two new \u201cdevelopment spots.\u201d The biggest question facing the Aces roster entering training camp is how they\u2019ll use those openings.<\/p>\n Development players must have three or less years of experience. They will earn a $750 weekly stipend and be paid the prorated minimum salary if they are activated for games, which will come out to around $6,000 per appearance.<\/p>\n Otherwise, development players will be a regular part of the team. They can be activated for up to 12 games and even get converted to a standard contract.<\/p>\n Teams will still be able to sign hardship players when faced with injury, giving the entire league much much more flexibility.<\/p>\n Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com.<\/a> Follow @Callie__Fin on X.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Winning takes sacrifice<\/h2>\n
Development spots are biggest question<\/h2>\n