The Las Vegas Aces have re-signed restricted free agent Kayla McBride to a multi-year contract. The team announced the deal Wednesday evening, which ensures that the franchise’s leading scorer from each of the past four seasons will remain with the team as they prepare to kick off their inaugural season in Las Vegas. The Aces are owned by MGM Resorts International, who purchased the team this offseason.
McBride has spent all four of her seasons to date with the franchise, then known as the San Antonio Stars. The Stars struggled in recent years to compete for the playoffs, but McBride emerged as a bright spot upon arrival as the third overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft out of Notre Dame. She earned All-Rookie honors after the 2014 season, followed by her first All-Star nod in 2015.
McBride sustained a fracture in her right foot midway through the 2016 season. She averaged 17.1 points and 4 rebounds per game in her 17 games played that season.
More from High Post Hoops
- Bet $5 on Sparks vs. Sky, Win $150 Instantly with Limited-Time DraftKings Promo
- Cash in for Over $2,000 With WNBA Promo Bonuses from FanDuel & Caesars
- FanDuel WNBA Promo Code Gives You $2,500 Bonus for ANY Game Tonight!
- Unlock $200 GUARANTEED With Crazy DraftKings WNBA Promo
- Unlock Over $4,500 Bonus With 3 Best WNBA Sportsbook Promos!
After earning a playoff bid with a record of 16-18 in 2014, the Stars finished 8-26 the following season. The Stars selected point guard Moriah Jefferson out of UConn with the second overall pick that offseason. San Antonio finished 7-27 in 2016, enabling them to select Kelsey Plum out of Washington with the first overall pick in the 2017 draft.
McBride, Jefferson and Plum, each now with some pro experience under their belts, will look to lead a high-powered scoring attack for new head coach and president of basketball operations Bill Laimbeer.
Laimbeer said the following in Wednesday’s release:
"We are obviously pleased that Kayla has chosen to sign a multi-year deal with the Aces. She has proven to be a consistent scorer in the WNBA, and every year works on improving additional aspects of her game. She is very excited about our new franchise in Las Vegas, and the opportunity for our team to grow."
After finishing last season with a record of 8-26, Las Vegas holds the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. The Summitt’s Howard Megdal currently has the Aces selecting forward A’ja Wilson out of South Carolina in his latest WNBA Mock Draft Big Board.
Las Vegas Aces re-sign Holmes, Burdick, sign Slaughter
The Las Vegas Aces announced late Monday that they have re-signed Sequoia Holmes and Cierra Burdick. The Aces also signed forward Ivey Slaughter.
McBride and the Aces kick off their 2018 season on the road May 20 against the Connecticut Sun.