Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces’ superstar guard and three-time WNBA Champion, helped the Aces make history Friday night as they clinched their third WNBA Championship in four years with a decisive 97–86 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, completing a commanding 4–0 sweep. The victory capped another record-breaking season for the Aces, solidifying them as one of the most electrifying teams in modern sports and a symbol of Las Vegas pride.
After helping bring another trophy home to Las Vegas, Young stepped off the hardwood and behind the front counter of Raising Cane’s Las Vegas Flagship Restaurant as she worked her first celebratory “shift,” celebrating the incredible feat with fans by serving them from the front counter and working in the kitchen. Nicknamed the “Silent Assassin” for her calm focus and ability to quietly take over a game, Young brought that same cool composure and precision into Raising Cane’s. With her lightning-quick hands and laser determination, she had no trouble keeping up with the rush of eager fans. Her court vision was perfect for spotting the next order coming down the line and her teamwork mentality fit right in with the Cane’s Crew, making her “shift” a slam dunk complete with some signature handshakes for Crew and Customers and “Let’s Go Aces!” chants along the way.
Young participated in a press conference, where she discussed the season, finals, what’s it’s like being an inspiration to young women everywhere and her go-to Raising Cane’s order.
“The season started out pretty rough. Being .500 and then getting beat by 53 points to then being able to string together 17 wins in a row in order to get a good spot for the playoffs. That was the biggest thing – first off making the playoffs and then, getting to a spot where we wanted to be so we could have home court advantage and things like that. It’s just been different because the past two championships, we were kind of on top the whole year and this year we kind of had to claw our way back into it,” said Young. “You think about just getting one (championship) and sometimes it takes your whole career, but now Aces basketball is the standard. Every time we come into training camp, we know that we’re prepping to win a championship.”
“Pressure is a privilege. It’s a good thing, it means that things matter. At the same time, I’m just trying to set a good example and be the standard,” said Young. “I know whenever I was a little girl, I looked up to Candace Parker and so if I can just be this person that the little girls look up to then it means I’m doing something right.”
“I usually get a Box Combo, sometimes a Caniac Combo if I’m really hungry, and then I get extra Cane’s Sauce. I’m a big dipper, so I need like three sauces and I finish it off with a sweet tea. I honestly eat Cane’s a lot after games, they stay open late so it’s my go-to,” she said.
During her “shift,” she FaceTimed Raising Cane’s owner and founder Todd Graves, who congratulated her on her third WNBA Championship.
“It was great having Jackie out to our Las Vegas Flagship today to celebrate the Aces’ third WNBA Championship title. They had a challenging season, but persevered and remained focused on the endgame and it was incredible watching their journey throughout the playoffs and Finals,” said Graves. “I’ve been a supporter of women’s sports and women athletes for many years, so I’ve loved seeing the WNBA gain traction over the last few years and am excited to see the support continue to grow. Jackie and her teammates are incredibly talented athletes and I’m looking forward to Vegas coming together on Friday to celebrate them and their Championship win.”
Now, with her third championship ring and a city behind her, Young is celebrating Las Vegas-style — with Raising Cane’s, fans and plenty of Chicken Fingers.
