There’s no hometown crowd quite like the Las Vegas Aces fans. On May 5, the atmosphere was beyond electric at the Westgate International Theater for the exclusive screening of “Never Fold,” a documentary about the Aces’ tumultuous 2025 season and eventual championship.
Never Give Up, “Never Fold,” Never Back Down
Head Coach Becky Hammon and Aces’ owner Mark Davis got a lot of attention from the crowd, with families reaching out to get group photos with Hammon. But it was when the Aces’ players arrived and sat down where the room’s volume hit a high note. A’ja Wilson, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Dana Evans, Janiah Barker, NaLyssa Smith, Kierstan Bell, Chennedy Carter, and Stephanie Talbot walked in to thunderous applause and standing ovation. Aces’ fans know exactly how to share their love and they do it loudly.
After a slight delay, the “Never Fold” documentary starts with the abrupt end of the Aces’ 2024 season with a loss to the New York Liberty in the second round of the playoffs. This leads into a head-scratching preseason with trades fans nor critics understood and a trip down memory lane of the bumpy road the team had to travel to get to their 2025 championship trophy. While the documentary is pretty straightforward and in chronological order, its in-depth look at the emotional and physical beating these women took throughout the season shines the most.
Addressing the Worst Parts of the WNBA Fandom
One of the standout moments was the sharp focus on the relentless abuse players Bell and Kiah Stokes got throughout the 2025 season. Parts of the Aces’ fandom’s dissatisfaction with both players, but especially Bell, is pretty well-known. This disgruntled behavior affected the entire team and the documentary focuses on how Wilson and the other players circled the wagons around their teammates to support and protect them.
Katie Morgan, Vice President of Creative Storytelling, was adamant about including the hate and abuse Bell and Stokes got and their reactions to it in the documentary. “The number one thing, I really wanted to tell the story of KB and Kiah. That, to me, was really important because when you win a lot, your expectations are so high and sometimes you need to flip a switch and just say instead of having these high expectations that we’re not always going to deliver; be blessed that you even have a team like this that’s won three out of four championships in four years,” Morgan said, passionately.
It was an emotional experience overall, with most of the crowd, including the players, getting teary-eyed watching the struggles they endured and overcoming them over and over again. The audience was very involved throughout the viewing; this was not a quiet movie theater experience, people were cheering, hooting and hollering at all the right parts. Seeing the seasons highs and lows all over again with beautiful music and on-point editing surrounded by passionate fans was a unique experience unlikely to be replicated anywhere else.
One moment that got the biggest laugh was Wilson’s confessional in her bronze pixie cut wig. The fans have been tickled with her wig choices lately and this was no exception. This kind of levity and silliness is like an inside joke between fans and the players, bringing both closer together. It’s the type of atmosphere that persists no matter how the games are going in-season.
A Refreshingly Honest Panel
After the screening, Morgan was joined by team president Nikki Fargas, Hammon, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, and Jackie Young. (Originally, Wilson was supposed to join on stage, but she was at the Met Gala in New York the night before as host committee member and before that she was in Dallas for the preseason game; the woman must be understandably exhausted.) The panel was a delight filled with some blunt honesty from Gray, a little vulnerability from Loyd, and Young being her usual chill self, drawing laughs with her trademark deadpan delivery.
Time and time again, the players have talked about how much Hammon pours into them and pushes them to be their best selves. Gray opened up about how defeated she felt during the season and went to Hammon for a heart-to-heart one morning. She said she confessed to her coach that didn’t “feel like” herself and that she felt “lost.” Hammon countered with “Who you are is enough.” Gray continued, “I think that Becky has changed the trajectory of my career, so that moment I needed to do that with her and it changed everything for me.”
Young praised the documentary for allowing the fans a glimpse into the reality of their lives. “They get to see our real, authentic selves,” she said. “We have a lot of fun, but we know when it’s time to lock in on the court, it’s time to get the job done; it’s just about having that balance. I guess everybody thinks I’m quiet, I am quiet, that’s true, but just being myself.”
Bragging Rights and Regular Season Returns
Aces’ fans certainly appreciate the openness and honesty of their favorite team, it’s apparent in how they show up for their champions every time and the “Never Fold” screening was no different. It was a packed house full of raw emotion, unyielding support, and rising excitement for the upcoming 2026 season. Fans are clamoring for a fourth championship and they might actually get it with players like Carter joining and Loyd returning.
The Aces’ regular season begins on May 9 with a pregame championship ring celebration that leads into the first official match-up of the season against the Phoenix Mercury. Funnily enough, this is the same team whom the Aces swept to take their third championship last year, so it should be a fantastic return to T-Mobile Arena for everyone.
I am a published writer, full-time editor, an events and entertainment reporter and mother of one. Comic books, drag queens, women’s basketball, queer films and TV shows are my bread and butter.
