Backing the champs, watching the clock
For women’s professional sports, there is every reason for Las Vegas to continue backing the Aces, yet uncertainty over the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) sponsorship renewal lingers.
A six-figure bet on the Aces
In May 2024, the LVCVA made a first-of-its-kind sponsorship offer to Aces players. It was a two-season package deal worth $100,000, brokered by LVCVA and players’ agents.
“The offer is simple. We want you to just play and keep reppin’ Las Vegas, and if you get a three-peat, that’ll be icing on the cake,” LVCVA President and CEO Steve Hill said in the team’s locker room.
Feb 13, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Executive Host Committee president Steve Hill speaks during the Super Bowl Host Committee Handoff press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“These players have put a national spotlight on Las Vegas,” Hill added. “There are no better representatives for the city than these champion athletes.”
Under the microscope
Soon after the announcement, the WNBA opened an investigation into possible CBA salary-cap violations.
Point guard Chelsea Gray told ESPN, “They’re investing in us, and so they put their money where their mouth is. We’ve done so much for the city and had fun doing it. It was a great moment for me and my teammates.” Gray said the deal showed support and had their back.
LVCVA acknowledged the investigation publicly: “The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority made a sponsorship offer to each Las Vegas Aces player through her agent, in accordance with the rules of any sponsorship these athletes might accept, and consistent with our own long-standing sponsorship programs.”
“This partnership builds on the current momentum of sports tourism and the popularity of women’s professional sports,” Hill said.
Las Vegas, ever the high roller, put bold money on the tourism table to back its championship team and market the city in true Vegas style. The Aces fell short in 2024, but they triumphed in 2025, with potential plans to center the team around A’ja Wilson, widely regarded as the best women’s basketball player in the world.
The sponsorship is set to expire soon. When asked about renewal, Hill said, “It’s not our plan to, but we haven’t completely made a decision, and we haven’t had a conversation yet.”
The WNBA’s investigation remains unresolved, with no comment on negotiations. Will Las Vegas continue investing in its championship partnership?
