Las Vegas Aces HC Becky Hammon becomes the WNBA’s first million-dollar woman, according to Insider.com. Not only being considered among the legends of the WNBA but now a legend to women everywhere. She left her longtime gig with the San Antonio Spurs under Hall of Fame coach George Popovich. She arrived at the Aces last season and just in one year she managed to lead this team to a championship.
The highest-paid coach in WNBA history.
Commissioner's Cup Champion.
Coach of the Year.
No. 1 seed.Becky Hammon just led the Las Vegas Aces to their first-ever WNBA Championship in her debut season 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qfQiJvGRvB
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 18, 2022
Luckily, Aces owner Mark Davis confirmed his coach would be making seven figures. Contrary to belief, while many would agree this is beneficial for the league moving forward, some thought otherwise. For example, former Aces and Los Angeles Sparks center Liz Cambage spoke out in anger regarding what many consider groundbreaking news.
“Ahhh yes the @WNBA, where a head coach can get paid 4X the highest paid players super max contract,” Cambage wrote via Twitter. “Lmao and y’all think imma spend another season upgrading my seat on a flight to get to games out of my own pocket.”
ahhh yes the @WNBA, where a head coach can get paid 4X the highest paid players super max contract. lmao and y’all think imma spend another season upgrading my seat on a flight to get to games out of my own pocket.
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) February 1, 2022
Mark Davis speaks to the Importance of Hiring Becky Hammon
Owner Mark Davis not only owns the Aces but he also owns an NFL franchise, the Las Vegas Raiders. Davis spoke about how important it is to hire Hammon and that she has the power and potential to inspire others around the world. Especially, for the growth of the game of women’s basketball to bring someone respected by the majority of professional men players is a huge statement.
“Little girls, guys, anybody can look at her and say, ‘She’s just like me,'” Davis said, per Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Sam Gordon. “‘A small basketball player who’s retired and she got the job. And she’s making a million dollars. I can do that, too.”
“That was really important to me to bring in that kind of value,” he added.
In San Antonio, Hammon commanded a $750,00 annual salary. This season, she made a 33% increase in her NBA salary. Many believe this is the beginning of the shift and with the new wave of girls coming into the league the entire scope of the WNBA will change.
