To close out a five-game road trip, the Las Vegas Aces took on the New York Liberty on Sunday. After playing the Minnesota Lynx less than 24 hours beforehand, head coach Becky Hammon decided to bench three of her starters to let them rest for their homestand. That meant the rest of the team had to step up to the plate.
With 5:47 left in the fourth quarter, Mai Yamamoto had the ball in the offensive zone. She found rookie development player, Ta’Niya Latson, and passed the ball her way. Standing behind the arc, she shot the ball before Liberty guard Marine Fauthoux could shoot the ball. The ball went over Fauthoux and straight into the basket.
By the end of the 111-71 loss, Latson had scored 20 points — her career high.
Latson came to the league after a college tenure with the South Carolina Gamecocks. In her final collegiate season, she averaged 14.1 points per game, along with 2.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Earlier year, Latson was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks, going 20th overall. She signed onto the Sparks roster as a development player, playing limited minutes and only being available for a few games at a time.
Eventually, her time in Los Angeles came to an end. She was waived by the Sparks on July 6, leaving her without a team. The Aces picked her up two days later on July 8, signing her as a developmental player.
“I was happy,” Latson told The IX Sports after Thursday’s shootaround. “I mean, the Aces are one of the best teams in the country, and I knew they had everything I needed, from resources, developing, coaching, teammates, everything. So I was super blessed.”
Hammon has kept her eye on Latson for a while. Before Latson was with South Carolina, she had an impressive start at Florida State. She gained national attention averaging 22.6 points across three seasons, along with 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
“I would say I was ‘goo goo gaga’ over this girl when she was at Florida State,” Hammon told reporters before Tuesday’s matchup against the Washington Mystics. “The whole country was. I mean she had that injury, so you know greatness is in there. It’s still in there. That didn’t go anywhere. We just want to bring it out in her and give her an opportunity to bring it out to me.”
Latson made her debut against the Portland Fire, getting her first points as an Ace. The crowd at Michelob Ultra Arena erupted in applause as she got her first bucket for Las Vegas. And she made more appearances as the Aces embarked on a five-game road trip. When the Aces played the Atlanta Dream, Latson scored another bucket, adding onto her career total.
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To close out the road trip, the Aces took on the New York Liberty, but with A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young on the bench.
Latson had a career game. Not only did she play for 24 minutes, but she also scored a career high of 20 points and managed to get a steal, two assists and four rebounds as well.
In that matchup, Latson scored more points than anyone in that starting lineup. Her, Justine Pissott and Yamamoto combined for a total of 47 points.
“T’s ability to get downhill kind of changes the perception of our team a bit,” Hammon told reporters after their match against the Liberty. “I thought they were all bright spots in there.”
In their return to Las Vegas, the Aces faced off the Washington Mystics in a two-game series. During Tuesday’s matchup, Latson had five points, a rebound, two assists, and a block within 10 minutes of playing time. Her and Yamamoto, who arrived at the same time, have shown their impact in this home stretch.
“I would rate them an A,” Wilson told reporters after Tuesday’s matchup against the Mystics. “I mean, they’re taking what’s given to them and they’re making the best out of it. I think that’s the best thing that you could do as a pro in this league. Just being ready when your name is called, because you never know when it’s gonna get called, particularly on our team. So I’m grateful that they’re showing up. I’m grateful that they’re just taking it piece by piece.”
When a rookie joins a team, a veteran tends to take them under their wing. For Latson, that veteran has been Young. And Latson knows that having a three-time champion and two-time gold medalist as a mentor is not something to take for granted.
“I have the best vets,” Latson told The IX Sports on Thursday. “I feel like all of them are just really great. They communicate really well, especially Jackie [Young]. Jackie’s always in my ear telling me stuff. So when you have the best shooting guard in your ear constantly, it just builds a sense of confidence and belonging.”
Young sings Latson’s praises right back at her, as well as Gray.
“She’s fearless,” Gray told The IX Sports about Latson after Thursday’s shootaround. “She has the confidence. When she gets in there, we try to tell her to just be you. Don’t try to think too much. Play off your instincts. She’s less quiet now, like even in the locker room. So it’s nice that she’s getting comfortable.”
When it comes to being a professional athlete, being able to adjust to new environments is crucial. Despite ups and downs, off nights or coming back from injuries, being surrounded by supportive teammates helps with the adjustment and instills confidence.
For Latson, the Aces have definitely been those teammates. Latson is finding her way and making sure the league knows who she is, with the support of her teammates, some of the WNBA’s biggest names. From eruptions of applause when she steps on the court to a surplus of support online, Latson has found a place where she thrives.
“When their numbers were called, they were ready to go, and I’m proud of them,” Young told reporters after Tuesday’s win against the Mystics, when asked about Yamamoto’s and Latson’s performances. “They haven’t been here a long time, but they’re locked in. They know the plays, and they’ve been ready.”
With their win against the Mystics on Thursday, the Aces officially clinched their spot in the 2026 playoffs. And with the last few games before the FIBA World Cup on the way, the Aces look to keep their current momentum going. For Latson, continuing her momentum means getting more time on the court to continue proving her worth and building her confidence in time for the playoffs.
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