The Las Vegas Aces currently stand at No. 3 in the league and are eyeing the second seed, but does it even matter? Head coach Becky Hammon had thoughts about the WNBA's playoff structure, and they weren't positive.

"The 1-1-1, I don't think, is a good setup. It is what it is," Hammon said in a post-match press conference after the Aces defeated the Seattle Storm.

"It should be 2-1 or go to a five-game series because the 1-1-1 is no advantage for the higher seed, really. It's nothing. That's not my decision obviously, but I don't like the setup in that first round."

The 1-1-1 setup essentially guarantees that the lower-seeded team will host game 2 of the first round. The higher-seeded team gets to host game 1 and also 3 if necessary, and that's not a meaningful advantage as per Hammon's post-match comments.

So right after their first game, the host must travel to another city/state. In this way, the lower-seeded team essentially gets the home-court advantage and, along with it, a chance to take the first round to game 3.

The 1-1-1 setup replaced the 2-1 system in the 2025 season. Under the old rules, the higher-seeded team would host the first two games. The lower-seeded team only got to host game three if the round went the distance.

Becky Hammon has been against the format since the beginning

If the lower-seeded team gets to play the second game on home court, what's the point of being seeded higher anyways? That's essentially the question that bothers Becky Hammon.

She has firmly opposed the format since it was introduced.

In fact, before the change, the Las Vegas Aces had not gone to game three since 2022, when Hammon became Head Coach. However, in 2025, three of the first four WNBA playoff series went to game three under the 1-1-1 setup.

The difference is evident. The new setup allows lower-seeded teams a chance to fight back. It also allows fans to cheer for their favorite teams during playoffs.

The WNBA profits from this, given all the fan engagement. The format also makes it possible for lower-seeded teams to make astonishing comebacks.

However, Hammon's take remains unchanged, along with her preferences. She finds the five-game series more favorable given its 2-2-1 format.

Under that system, the higher seed hosts two matches consecutively, which would make for a more meaningful advantage.

Now, the Aces currently hold a 29-13 record and are set to go up against the LA Sparks on September 23, 2026. If they win, they'll have a chance to be the second seed in the playoffs.

Written by

Prit Chauhan