The WNBA will begin its 26th season this weekend with many intriguing storylines, including the potential retirements of Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, the return of Becky Hammon as a coach and the absence of Brittney Griner.

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon was ready to lead her own team.

Becky Hammon is the next coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

Las Vegas couldn't respond. A'ja Wilson had 20 points to lead Las Vegas while Angel McCoughtry and Emma Cannon added 17 each. The Aces led 65-64 with 3:22 left in the period before the Storm closed with a 11-3 burst. The Storm, who had 17 assists on their 18 baskets, built the lead to 13 before Las Vegas rallied to the six-point halftime deficit. ... Stewart had her fifth consecutive 20-point game in the WNBA Finals spanning back to the 2018 season.

“You impose on them it's a five-game series, even if you lose one game so what? “He trusts us and knows what we’re capable of.”The Aces feel that they have fixable problems. It was also the first finals for many of the Aces players, including Wilson and Jackie Young. Stewart had a career-high 37 points — one short of the WNBA Finals record. The biggest thing is to make them contested shots," Wilson said.

Thibault knows that he could be at higher risk for severe illness if he gets the coronavirus because of his age. The 69-year-old coach didn't hesitate about going down to Florida with his team Monday, July 6, 2020, to prepare for the upcoming WNBA season. The 69-year-old Washington Mystics coach didn't hesitate about going down to Florida with his team Monday to prepare for the virus-delayed WNBA season. I'm not at the same risk as that grocery store worker or restaurant owner heading to work every day. I know that Dan had a difficult decision to forego the 2020 WNBA season," said Indiana Fever coach Marianne Stanley, who is 66.