Head coach Becky Hammon doesn’t like to settle for just good enough. Even when her team holds a lead, she always looks for areas to improve. 

On June 28, 2026, the Aces led Chicago 61-50 at halftime when Hammon stopped for a CBS Sports interview. She wanted stronger perimeter defense in the second half, despite her team having a comfortable lead on the scoreboard.

“I need our guards to get going on the defensive end.” This exact statement was the takeaway from the short CBS Sports halftime interview.

Despite holding an 11-point lead, Hammon was not celebrating. After a tight first quarter (31-31), the Aces seized control in the second, outscoring Chicago 30-19 to build their halftime cushion.

The Aces heeded Hammon's message, winning 107-99 and holding Chicago to just 49 second-half points. They allowed 50 points in the 1st half and 49 points in the 2nd. 

While Chicago became more aggressive in the 4th quarter by scoring 26 points, the Aces never lost control of the game.

A'ja Wilson secured the victory with an all-around performance of 30 points, 15 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.

The halftime message was about maintaining championship habits even when winning. That push for perfection translates into her coaching impact.

Becky Hammon's Defensive Mindset Provided Results for the Aces

Hammon became the head coach of the Aces in 2022. Before this, she worked as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. The 2026 season marks her 5th season leading the Las Vegas franchise.

She has already won three WNBA championships in 2022, 2023, and 2025. She also earned the WNBA Coach of the Year award in 2022 and won a Commissioner's Cup title. She is one of the fastest coaches to reach 150 career wins. 

According to Wikipedia, she is also a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee based on her career as a player.

Her coaching style connects to the team's ongoing success. As of late June 2026, the Aces hold a 14-5 record. This places them second overall in the WNBA standings. 

The players fully buy into this demanding culture. Wilson praised her coach by saying, "She has poured herself into us, which allows us to be true to ourselves, and that is just a sign of a great coach." 

Which current player do you feel benefits the most from this strict defensive coaching style?

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Utsav Sinha