Full Breakdown
Las Vegas Aces Finalize Max-Value Deal to Retain Guard Jackie Young
4/28/2026, 4:23:14 AM
Core Agreement: One-Year Max Contract Secures Young’s Return
Las Vegas Aces are finalizing a one-year contract with guard Jackie Young at the league’s regular maximum salary of $1.19 million, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Young, who was expected to be a coveted free agent, did not take any meetings with other clubs. The deal prevents her from entering free-agency negotiations and keeps her with the defending WNBA champion.
Background & Context: Recent Championships and Roster Continuity
The Aces have captured three championships in four years, including the most recent title in 2025, and entered the season as defending WNBA champions. Their sustained success has been built around a core group that includes Young, four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, and six-time All-Star Chelsea Gray. The franchise’s approach emphasizes continuity over free-agent acquisitions, making the retention of this trio a strategic priority to avoid the roster turnover in the league’s free-agency period.
Key Figures & Groups: Profiles of the “Big Three”
Jackie Young, a 6-foot guard drafted No. 1 overall in 2019 out of Notre Dame, has spent her entire WNBA career with the Aces. She is a four-time All-Star, two-time All-WNBA selection, and the league’s Most Improved Player in 2022. Young has been part of the Aces’ run of three championships in four years — including 2025. A’ja Wilson, a four-time MVP, intends to stay in Las Vegas. Chelsea Gray, a six-time All-Star, also plans to stay, completing the “big three” that has driven Aces’ dominance.
Data & Statistics: Young’s 2025 Production
In the 2025 season, Young posted averages of 16.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, highlighting her all-around contributions. She earned the league’s Most Improved Player award in 2022 and helped the Aces’ championship run with her two-way play. Young’s résumé includes two Olympic gold medals—one with the U.S. 3x3 team in Tokyo and another with the 5-on-5 team in Paris—plus a 2018 national championship with Notre Dame.
Why It Matters / Impact: Maintaining Core for Continued Title Contention
Securing Young at the maximum salary reinforces the Aces’ strategy of roster stability and aligns with the league’s salary structure, ensuring compliance while locking in talent. By keeping the “big three” intact, the franchise aims to preserve the on-court chemistry that has produced multiple titles and to avoid a costly bidding war. The contract also signals to other teams that Las Vegas intends to remain a premier destination for elite talent, potentially shaping the league’s competitive balance.
Official Statements & Responses
Team representatives, speaking on condition of anonymity to ESPN, confirmed that negotiations are near completion and emphasized the importance of “keeping the core together” for the next campaign. No public comment from Young or the Aces’ front office has been released at the time of reporting.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All available sources consistently report the $1.19 million figure and the one-year term. No contradictory information, alternative salary figures, or missing details have been identified in the current coverage.
