The 2026 WNBA season has tipped off, and two of the game's greatest legends are already making bold predictions about how this milestone 30th campaign will unfold. In an exclusive interview with USA Today's Studio IX, Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Candace Parker shared their belief that four-time MVP A'ja Wilson will once again be the driving force behind the Las Vegas Aces, propelling them to their fifth WNBA Finals appearance in just six seasons.
Cooper brings a unique perspective to the conversation, having won Finals MVP for four consecutive years as a member of the Houston Comets dynasty that claimed the league's first four championships. Despite the Aces suffering a 101-84 preseason loss to the Dallas Wings—their only exhibition game against a fellow WNBA team—Cooper remains unwavering in her confidence. "I'm the queen of the back-to-back-to-back-to-back," Cooper said with a smile. "Even though the Las Vegas Aces had a bad loss to Dallas, I don't think you can bet against them."
Cooper also expects the New York Liberty to emerge as the Aces' Finals opponent once again. The Liberty captured the championship in 2024 but were eliminated in the first round last season after Breanna Stewart was sidelined with a sprained MCL in her left knee. "They're going to be super hungry," Cooper predicted. "They'll bring their A-game every single night."
Parker, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time MVP who finished her illustrious career with the Aces, sees a different path to the Finals. She envisions a rematch between Las Vegas and the rising Indiana Fever. "It's Aces vs. Indiana Fever in the Finals," Parker declared. "The Indiana Fever came within an overtime win last year in Game 5 against the Aces of being in the Finals. And this year they add a healthy Caitlin Clark, back playing with confidence."
The two legends, who will both serve as analysts on the WNBA on Prime broadcast team this season, didn't stop there. During their nearly 30-minute conversation, they also weighed in on the NBA playoffs, WNBA free agency, which team could surprise everyone, and the league's ongoing expansion. With the Aces' championship pedigree and Wilson's dominant presence, it's clear that Las Vegas remains the team to beat—and two of the sport's all-time greats are already locking in their predictions.