Becky Hammon is finalizing a five-year deal to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. The deal will make her the highest-paid coach in WNBA history. Hammon is currently an assistant coach of the San Antonio Spurs and plans to finish the NBA season.
Just in: San Antonio Spurs assistant and WNBA legend Becky Hammon is closing in on a landmark deal to become the new head coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, sources tell me and @ShamsCharania.https://t.co/XYVsYgQo6j pic.twitter.com/JXV9NXVing
— Chantel Jennings (@ChantelJennings) December 31, 2021
A week ago, rumors were floating around about Hammon being interested in taking the New York Liberty job and the Aces. But nobody knew the Aces job was open because Bill Laimbeer is still there; Laimbeer could reportedly take a front-office job with the Aces.
WNBA Career
Hammon went undrafted in the WNBA but signed with the New York Liberty in 1999 to back up Teresa Weatherspoon; Hammon spent eight seasons with New York and made three all-star teams. The former Colorado State star was a fan favorite in New York because of her hard play on both sides.
The San Antonio Silver Stars traded for Hammon in 2007. she had her best season as a WNBA player averaging 19.5 points a game and 5.0 assists per game. With the Silver Stars, Hammon earned the name “Big Shot Becky” for her ability to make big shots.
Hammon, a six-time All-Star, made both the WNBA’s Top 15 players of All-Time and WNBA Top 20@20. The former Silver Star also spent time in the NWBL playing for the Tennessee Fury and Colorado Chill.
Coaching Career
Hammon became an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Her time with one of the best coaches in the NBA, Gregg Popovich, will pave the way for her to be a good NBA coach. Hammon played the point guard position, which is pretty much like having a coach on the floor, and she played it at a high level.
In 2015 Hammon became the first female head coach in the NBA Summer League. Hammon coached the Spurs to the Las Vegas Summer League title that summer. Hammon is more than ready to be a head coach in the NBA.
About a year ago, Hammon became the first woman to coach an NBA game when Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was ejected in the second quarter of the Spurs 121-107 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Popovich pointed at Hammon after the ejection and told her; you got them.
“He officially pointed at me. That was it. … That was it,” Hammon said. “Said, ‘You got ’em,’ and that was it. Very Pop-like.”
Since then, Hammon went on a couple of interviews for NBA teams but never was hired. She is more than ready; now, Hammon will take her knowledge to the WNBA and help lead the Aces to a WNBA championship.
Follow me on Twitter: @raiderway83 and read other amazing articles on Beyond Women’s Sports.
