A 12 months in the past, Dana Evans was a free agent recent off a irritating season with the Chicago Sky. And when she was acquired by the Las Vegas Aces, few anticipated she’d be one of many important keys to a WNBA championship.
However now, just some days faraway from the Aces third title in 4 years, it’s clear that she was.
Evans, a 2021 second-round draft choose, spent her whole WNBA profession in Chicago, and was largely to be a core a part of a 2024 Sky staff headlined by then-rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
However, issues didn’t work out. The 5’6 guard was moved from the beginning lineup to the bench, and noticed her minutes (and manufacturing) decline because the season progressed. All of the whereas, she confronted harsh on-line scrutiny for her play that she described as “disgusting” in a postgame interview final September.
“This season actually challenged my psychological to a different stage,” Evans stated then.
Flash ahead one 12 months, and Evans is a WNBA champion
Not solely that, she’s recent off essentially the most environment friendly season and playoff run of her profession; in within the Aces’ 12-game postseason run, she averaged 8.5 factors and three assists, whereas taking pictures 47% from the sphere, 53% from three, and 100% from the road.
That effectivity is one thing she’s pleased with.
The spotlight of her postseason run was Sport 1 of the Finals, when she tallied 21 factors on 8-13 FG, 4 steals, and three assists. In a fourth quarter that got here all the way down to the wire, Evans poured in 3 three-pointers, serving to the Aces take a 1-0 Finals lead.
However, her contributions in that sport isn’t what she’ll keep in mind most, she stated. It’s all concerning the title.
“I’m blessed and grateful for that, however I’m nonetheless simply on a excessive from simply successful the championship,” Evans stated in her Aces exit interview on Monday. “Clearly, I’m glad that I confirmed up in Sport 1 and was capable of assist, however I wouldn’t say that’s one thing that I’m nonetheless simply actually, actually enthusiastic about.”
When Evans landed in Las Vegas, it was a possibility to affix a championship group, a staff that was one 12 months faraway from the brightest stage in basketball. And, whereas it wasn’t sure what sort of position she’d play contemplating the very fact she was becoming a member of a staff that already boasted three Olympic guards — Jackie Younger, Chelsea Grey, and Jewell Loyd — she had her on the prize from the bounce.
“Being a champion is what I wished to do that entire 12 months,” Evans stated. “That’s an important half for me.”
Evans wasn’t the solely Aces position participant who has confronted heavy scrutiny previously 12 months; NaLyssa Smith, who was on the Indiana Fever final season after which on the Dallas Wings earlier this season, stated she was in an analogous boat, as was Kiersten Bell, a longtime Aces position participant.
The trio bonded via the net scrutiny they confronted.
“That was simply added gasoline to our fireplace and motivating us extra, nevertheless it additionally allowed us to develop nearer collectively and lean on one another extra and simply uplift one another,” Evans stated. “I used to be simply at all times making an attempt to be that constructive particular person for each of them.”
“Once I may see that they’d get down on themselves or one thing was bothering them, it’s laborious, as a result of we’re skilled athletes, and are we going to be criticized? Completely we’re going to be criticized. We all know that, we perceive that, nevertheless it’s the way in which folks go about it, and it’s the way you do issues. And I feel it takes a toll on you. It takes a toll on you mentally. So simply having people who have handled it in your nook, and to see them successful, it makes me glad. I’m simply blessed that we had been capable of come out on prime.”
After the championship, Evans turned to social media to have a good time: “It’s nothing like getting the final snigger,” she posted on X.
Evans scored within the double-figures in 6 of 12 playoff video games, together with a 10-point outing within the remaining sport of the Finals. She introduced a fiery power to Las Vegas on each ends, one which she attributes to her upbringing.
“I’ve at all times performed with a chip on my shoulder,” Evans stated. “I’ve at all times been counted out. So, I take every part on the shoulder — I really feel like everyone comes at me as a result of I’m 5’6, or no matter, on a superb day. They attempt to assault me, or attempt to assume that they’ll punk me as a result of I’m smaller, however I’m from Gary [Indiana], and I’m not scared, and I’m not ever going to again down.”
Evans described each facet of her expertise with the Aces as a “breath of recent air.” And, whereas it’s not about final season, ending this one on the prime of the basketball world has meant every part.
