Four straight Aces is a winning hand in just about any game of cards. Turns out it works well in basketball, too.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Doc Rivers, Jermaine O’Neal, and Cam Thomas! 🎉

Around the Association

Aces down Mercury 97-86 in Game 4, complete sweep for third title in four years

It’s officially dynasty season in the desert.

On Friday, the Las Vegas Aces finished a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals, stamping Vegas as one of the W’s teams for the ages. After title wins in 2022 and 2023, the Aces are in the midst of one of the greatest runs the league has ever seen, led by arguably the greatest player it’s ever seen: A’ja Wilson brought home her second Finals MVP award, becoming the first hooper in WNBA history to win MVP, DPOY, and FMVP in the same season. 🤯

Vegas owned the decisive Game 4 from the jump, never trailing en route to the clinching W. Wilson put on an absolute clinic, dropping 31 PTS and corralling 9 REB, while Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray added 18 PTS apiece. Jewell Loyd and Dana Evans also scored 10+ each.

It’s the end of a stellar season for Phoenix, who defeated both of last year’s Finals participants (Liberty and Lynx) en route to the championship series. The Mercury’s dynamic duo of Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper each played well in the elimination effort, with Thomas logging a triple-double (17 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST) and Copper reaching 30 PTS. It was also a great season for the league as a whole, which saw its most-watched regular season ever!

Congrats to the Aces, and we can’t wait for more W action!

Wemby, Harper highlight latest slate of preseason action

We’re only 8 days from the start of the NBA regular season, and preseason tune-up time is in full swing. Let’s break down some of the weekend’s standout performances:

• The future of San Antonio is here, and it looks like Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs duo wasted no time in their first action as a pair, connecting on an alley-oop en route to a 134-130 win over the Jazz. Wemby dropped 22 PTS, while Harper had 9 on 4/5 shooting.

• In case you were concerned that OKC didn’t have enough quality players, they may have found another. In a Finals rematch against Indiana, the Thunder’s Chris Youngblood dropped 25 PTS off the bench, the latest in a series of solid performances for the former Bama hooper (Indiana ultimately won 116-100.) Plus, he’s got the MVP rocking his jersey.

• Miami has a knack for developing talent, and Kel’el Ware may be next in line. The Oregon product dropped 24 PTS and 10 REB in a 120-104 loss to the Magic, who got a calm 17 from Franz Wagner. Watch out for an increased role for Ware this season. 👀

• The Celtics will look very different this campaign than they have in years past, but a few new additions are fitting right in: Chris Boucher had 19 PTS, 9 REB, and 2 stocks in a Friday matchup with the Raptors, but Boston fell 107-105 thanks in part to 22 PTS from Gradey Dick. Then, on Sunday, Boston downed Cleveland 138-107 behind a 21-point bench performance from Anfernee Simons.

• It’s still weird seeing Myles Turner in anything but Pacers yellow, but he’s pulling off the Milwaukee green thus far. Turner showed off his range in a 127-121 win over Chicago, taking all of his field goals from beyond the arc and connecting on 5/8 for 19 PTS. Oh, and this rejection…

Pick a Side

While the Aces are building one of women’s basketball’s best dynasties ever, the debate surrounding history’s top NBA team still wages on. But there are two teams that often emerge at the top of the pile: the 1996 Chicago Bulls and the 2017 Golden State Warriors. Let’s break it down.

The case for the ‘96 Bulls: No team has ever accomplished as much in a single NBA season as this Windy City squad— full stop. Winners of 72 regular season games and a championship title, Chicago’s core of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman may have their picture in the dictionary under the term “Big Three.” Jordan took home the MVP, Pippen was named first team All-NBA, and Rodman was first team All-Defense, while Toni Kukoc also won 6MOY. The Bulls led the league in both offensive and defensive rating, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy. The ultimate Batman, the ultimate Robin, the ultimate team.

The case for the ‘17 Warriors: What happens when the all-time winningest regular season team ever adds one of the most talented scorers in league history? Evidently, dominance. The 2017 Dubs were a buzzsaw of untold proportions, cutting through the league behind a ridiculous core of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala, most of whom were at the peak of their powers. And don’t forget a bench mob that included Shaun Livingston, Javale McGee, Matt Barnes, and David West. Golden State coasted through the regular season with 67 wins, but tore through the playoffs with a 15-0 start and 16-1 final record. When it comes to pure talent, these Warriors are tough to beat.

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, consider reaching back out to an old friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Something as small as a phone call could make both of your days. See you soon!

Walker Carnathan