Las Vegas’s season ended Friday with a semifinal sweep by Golden State. Its offseason starts with one name: Jackie Young.

The 29-year-old guard has just completed her eighth season — all of them with the Aces, who drafted her first overall in 2019 out of Notre Dame. She played the 2026 season on a one-year, $1.19 million deal and is now an unrestricted free agent.

Young is coming off a career year. She started all 43 games, averaged 18.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, and remains one of the league’s best two-way guards — a five-time All-Star, two-time All-WNBA selection, former Most Improved Player, and a core piece of all three Aces championships. This summer she also won her second Olympic gold medal and was named player of the game in Team USA’s World Cup final win over France in Berlin.

Head coach Becky Hammon left no doubt where Las Vegas stands after Friday’s loss, calling it a big priority to retain Young while acknowledging the final decision is hers.

A’ja Wilson, who has played alongside Young since 2019, said she will be in her teammate’s ear the way she always is — supportive, consistent, and giving her space when she needs it.

There is reason for Aces fans to be cautiously optimistic. Last offseason, Young drew plenty of outside interest and chose not to take meetings with other teams, saying her mindset was always to return to Las Vegas, the place that drafted her and where she wants to be.

But a career year changes a market. Young will be one of the most sought-after free agents in the league, and this time the Aces cannot count on loyalty doing the work for them. Keeping the Wilson-Young core together is the foundation of any Las Vegas response to this year’s semifinal exit.

The defending champions’ dynasty is not over. Whether it continues, though, may depend on one signature.

Sources: USA TODAY (Oct. 10, 2026) on Young’s season, contract status and comments from Hammon and Wilson. Contract figures via Spotrac as cited by USA TODAY.