The Aces led the Golden State Valkyries 33-30 with 1:30 left in the second quarter. Forward Stephanie Talbot stood in the corner, patiently waiting for the ball. When the ball landed in her hands, she immediately shot the 3-pointer. The ball landed gracefully in the net, sending Michelob Ultra Arena into a frenzy.
In the offseason, head coach Becky Hammon sought out anyone who could bolster the defending champions’ roster. She sought out those who could rebound, block shots, set screens and be a dominating presence, all while scoring when called upon. After the loss of forward Megan Gustafson, a contributor off the bench for the Aces in 2024 and 2025, this need only grew. Enter Stephanie Talbot.
“She’s big,” Hammon told The IX, “can guard multiple positions, so she’s doing great in what we’re asking her to do … basically doing exactly what we’re asking her to do.”
Talbot joined the Aces entering her ninth year in league after finishing 2025 with the New York Liberty. Talbot joined the Liberty after a 16-game stint with the Golden State Valkyries, who had selected her in their expansion draft before the 2025 season.
She was waived by the Valkyries and picked up by the Liberty just eight days later, where she reunited with Australian National Team head coach Sandy Brondello. Playing under Brondello at the Paris Olympics, Talbot and the Opals secured bronze. It was her third Olympic Games and her first medal.
Across 38 games last season, Talbot averaged 2.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks in just 14.2 minutes per game. Even without any one eye-popping area of the box score, playing against Talbot is no easy feat.
Vegas’ defensive efficiency with Talbot on the court vs. off the court tells the story: In 229 minutes on the floor, the Aces have posted a defensive rating of 98.5 points allowed per 100 possessions. In 251 minutes off the court, the Aces are allowing 108.5 points per 100 possessions.
Talbot is part of all three of the Aces’ best two-player defensive pairings with at least 100 minutes played. Talbot and NaLyssa Smith‘s 94.4 defensive rating when both are on the floor is the best on the team, with Talbot’s time with A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young ranking second and third, respectively.
“She’s a good defender,” Young told The IX, “she’s strong, obviously her length and size, and then just how hard she tries, I think that’s what makes her a good defender.”
“I was excited,” Young told The IX when asked about her reaction to the signing. “Obviously, I’ve played against her for a while now in the league, and I know what she can do. So I was excited to play with her.”
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In the 12 games she’s played with the Aces, she’s averaged 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game while playing just over 19 minutes per game.
Veteran forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus echoed Young’s sentiments about Talbot’s effort and spoke on her early impact.
“From the beginning of training camp,” Parker-Tyus told The IX, “she’s just made it clear that she’s gonna come and just bring 100% maximum effort, and that’s something Becky definitely looks for, especially on the defensive end.”
Through a little more than a quarter of the season, Hammon and the Aces have learned a lot about Talbot and her playing style.
“One thing I am learning is she’s a better passer than I thought,” Hammon told The IX. “She just really makes the right plays, has good eyes, good vision, takes care of the ball, just kind of what I thought, how she fits in with our group.”
Talbot’s adjustments have shown over the course of the season. Through seven games, Talbot was averaging just 2.7 points per game and had reached 5 points just once as defense was prioritized over scoring.
Talbot also struggled from deep early on, going 0-for-6 across those first seven games. As the season has progressed, she has made adjustments, become more comfortable shooting from the 3-point arc, and averaged 7 points per game over the last five contests, including a much better 9-for-25 from behind the arc. The Aces’ five-game winning streak coincides with that improvement.
Off the court, Talbot is making Las Vegas her home and embracing the desert heat. In the summer, temperatures can reach up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius). However, the heat isn’t bothering her, on or off the court.
”I low-key love the heat,” Talbot told The IX. “Like, I’ll take the heat over cool weather any day. We went to San Francisco the other day, and it was cold, and I’m like, ‘Nah, get me back to Vegas,’ so I kind of like it.”
Talbot also told The IX that she enjoys life outside of the Vegas Strip, with some distance from the hustle and bustle of the casino row.
“Obviously the Strip is busy,” Talbot told The IX, “and there’s lots to do, so there’s things to do if you want, but outside of that, it’s chill, it’s kind of quiet and calm, which I like.”
Temperatures in Las Vegas are rising, and so is the heat that the Aces are bringing. Talbot’s defense, rebounding, and 3-point shooting are heating up as well. As Commissioner’s Cup play continues, Talbot will be bringing the heat and embracing it.
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