The Las Vegas Aces found late-season guard help in a player they had already seen up close.
Las Vegas signed Japan national team guard Mai Yamamoto for the rest of the season Friday. Yamamoto scored 24 points and made seven 3-pointers against the Aces during an April 26 exhibition.
The Aces won 94-78, but Yamamoto made sure they remembered her.
Hammon knew her game
Becky Hammon’s interest in Yamamoto was clear before that exhibition began.
“Yamamoto, I know,” Hammon said. “She’s somebody who I like her game a lot.”
Hammon described Yamamoto as a fast, disciplined guard who can score at all three levels. She also praised Japan’s shooting and constant movement.
Yamamoto then backed up the scouting report.
She finished with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal in 28 minutes. Yamamoto made 7 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc.
Las Vegas won by 16. Still, Yamamoto provided Japan’s biggest offensive spark.
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) dribbles against Japan guard Mai Yamamoto (23) during an April 26 exhibition at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Yamamoto scored 24 points and made seven 3-pointers in the game before signing with Las Vegas for the rest of the season. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
International experience arrives
Yamamoto brings an extensive international résumé to Las Vegas.
She has appeared in seven senior-level FIBA competitions for Japan. That run includes the 2022 FIBA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Yamamoto scored 17 points with five assists and three rebounds against the United States during Japan’s Olympic opener.
More recently, she earned All-Star Five honors at the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Türkiye. Yamamoto averaged 15 points, 3.6 assists, two rebounds and 1.2 steals while helping Japan qualify.
She also helped Japan win the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup and take silver in 2023.
Her international success extends to 3×3 basketball. Yamamoto helped Japan win gold at the 2019 FIBA U23 3×3 World Cup, the country’s first world basketball title.
Another WNBA opportunity
Yamamoto had a brief WNBA opportunity with Dallas in 2025.
She signed with the Wings during the preseason but was waived before the regular season. Yamamoto did not appear in a regular-season game.
She has played professionally for the Toyota Antelopes since 2017. Yamamoto helped the club win Japanese league championships in 2021 and 2022.
Now she gets another chance with a team that already knows what her shooting can do.
Hammon liked Yamamoto’s game before tipoff in April.
Seven 3-pointers later, the rest of Las Vegas understood why.
Up next
The Aces finally return to the court Monday after an eight-day break.
Las Vegas left for Toronto on Saturday and will face the Tempo at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. Pacific on Peacock.
The trip continues Wednesday against the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Pacific.
The Aces then return home for Portland on Tuesday, July 28, and New York on Thursday, July 30. Both games begin at 7 p.m. at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
After that, Las Vegas opens August with five straight road games.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
