This is a confusing time for me. I refer you again to the title of this article.

I’m a Las Vegas Aces fan. I have an Aces tattoo of a cartoon ace of spades carrying a championship trophy and boombox – it’s delightful.

And yet, because I’m a fool, I want the Minnesota Lynx to win the 2025 WNBA Championship.

A long, winding road to being a doofus

I’m going to spell out how I got here because I want you to understand why I’m committed to this stance.

1. The only basketball videogame I had growing up was NBA Live 99.

2. I almost exclusively played as the Minnesota Timberwolves because I thought they had the coolest logo (and I was very swayed by logos).

3. I thus have a strong affection for the Wolves.

4. This affection has only grown because of the incredible mediocrity of the men’s team and has transmuted into an affection for Minnesota sports overall because I, an empath, want Minni fans to have nice things.

5. The Minnesota Lynx, beacons of excellence, would’ve won the WNBA Championship were it not for a royally botched foul call.

There’s more: Napheesa Collier is incredible and deserves a championship ring. Revenge arcs are fun. And perhaps most importantly of all, the Las Vegas Aces have been damn weird this season.

Confusing time in Vegas

The Aces went into last season as championship favourites. They fell short of that: they were stomped in the second round by the Liberty and just looked exhausted for the rest of the play-offs. Their total lack of depth was exposed.

Their following off-season was, uh, rough. Kelsey Plum was traded; they fired Natalie Williams, their general manager, and they protected Tiffany Hayes in the expansion draft for the Golden State Valkyries… only for Hayes to sign with the Valks in free agency.

I was down on the Aces heading into the season. And their early play lived up to that expectation. Shit was messy. Their play was disjointed. The chatter about the team’s front office could be summarised as “things are suss in Vegas”.

The Aces fell down the standings. They were below or at .500. They looked like they’d scrape into the playoffs if they were lucky. Obviously I’m no fair-weather fan and I support the Aces in all their endeavours (see: my silly tattoo) but*,* you know, I’m pragmatic.

My latent Minnesotan sympathies awakened. I began to hope that — if the Aces won’t be contending the title — perhaps the Lynx could take it. 

I’m a victim here

Unfortunately, as of writing, the Las Vegas Aces are on a 15-game winning streak. They’re second in the standings, four games behind the Minnesota Lynx.

A’ja Wilson, the Aces best player, is putting together an overwhelming case for an unprecedented fourth MVP award. Chelsea Gray – noted action hero – is playing like she can control time and Jackie Young is scoring like the rim owes her money.

Let’s be clear: I love this. But also: oh no.

The Aces are playing like they have a revenge arc against themselves a few months ago. It’s incredible. I want them to win it all.

It’s just – the Lynx. I’m so emotionally invested. I want Minnesota fans to have nice things…

But hey: playoff runs are nice, right? You can just enjoy that, right?