LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Aces are currently the best team in the WNBA, and one of the reasons for their success is guard Jackie Young who has entered the new season with a renewed three point shot and swag. She’s currently averaging 18.2ppg and 4.1 apg that has been an asset to the team and her game.
New head coach Becky Hammon, who’s a great evaluator of talent, noticed that besides Young’s skills on the court, she had an even larger and imperative skill which the ability to communicate on and off the court during games. Hammon wanted her tongue to be like the pen of the ready writer, communicating more accurately and clearly in order to be a more effective as a player.
“I thought communication is her next step of growth. She’s super smart. I need her to use her words and I challenged her to share some of that knowledge,” Hammon said.
Since being drafted, the Notre Dame product has started in 75 games and is on par to have her best season yet. Recently, she scored her 1,000th career point against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Her love for the game and studying the game intensely by watching film enabled her to increase her basketball IQ to maximize her performance. Before the 2022 season began, Young realized something had to change in order for her to get better results which lead her to working out in Australia in the off season. Her being in exceptional shape began with weight training, cardio, spent time in the heat chamber, and began a boxing regiment for better endurance. Young also remained cognizant of her nutrition in order to be the best player coming into the season according to her.
She came into the Aces training camp ready to compete and understood what she exemplifies in practice will show up on the court on game days, making sure she stayed on point like a decimal. Young has been challenged and battle tested defensively against the greats of Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, and Kayla McBride where she has been dynamite against those opponents.
“Trying to be locked in each game, I know I’m going to have a tough defensive assignment every night and I know the coaches and the team are counting on me to get stops and I really take pride in that,” Young explained. “It’s really a team effort, yeah I have to do a good job on my assignments, but at the end of the day they’re helping… they’re calling out screens and they’re there if I get beat so it’s really a team effort.
“It’s been good to play against each teams early on. It’s been good for us knowing we can defend at a high level, playing against good teams early has been good for us.“
Young has also taken valuable lesson from her 3-on-3 Tournament experience in the Olympics that assisted her in playing better and more solid 1-on-1 defense, and the ability to get up and down the floor quicker. Her three point shooting on the offensive end has improved along with the rest of the team’s, and her secret has been putting some more arch on her shot with confidence.
“Just putting in a lot of reps… getting in early and staying late,” Young said. “We made a few changes to my shot (and) I think the biggest thing is just getting up and keeping it on the right side of my body. I think a lot of it is a confidence thing and keeping a positive mindset.“
Working on herself mentally, physically, and emotionally this off season allowed her to remain focused on being the best. With this immaculate group of ballers that include A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Grey, one thing that has been the complete difference maker is Young’s renewed confidence in herself, and her ability to contribute to her team under the leadership of Hammon, she’s the glue that keeps this team together and flowing.
