Last season was a disappointment by the Aces' lofty standards. The team that won WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023 seldom looked like their usual selves. They entered the playoffs as the fourth seed and lost in four games to the eventual champion New York Liberty in the semifinals.

That word has lingered with Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon. Despite the Aces being 65 days away from their season-opening game against the New York Liberty, she can already feel that ...