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Basketball In A Ballroom?! Las Vegas Women’s B-Ball Tourney A Disaster

Author Shawn Tempesta

Las Vegas is the home of the best in Women’s Basketball – the WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces. Turns out Las Vegas is also the home of the worst women’s basketball tournament potentially ever held.

The “Las Vegas Invitational” run by Destination Basketball featured several teams from throughout the country including Auburn, Indiana, Memphis and more. It was clear from the jump this was not going to be women’s sports finest hour.

The event was being held at The Mirage. “Oh, The Mirage has an arena?” you may be asking. No. No they do not. Insert the “Fyre Fest” of basketball.

Your eyes do not deceive you. That is a ballroom. Seating? Grab a chair and find a spot. Ladies, need towels to wipe off your sweat? Bring one down from your room – they reportedly were not provided. Yeah, an absolute disaster. But wait – it gets worse.

Auburn’s Kharyssa Richardson took a hard hit to the court in what appeared to be a neck injury. Were EMTs standing by? No. Turns out the event didn’t fork up the money to have emergency personnel standing by, and Richardson had to wait over 40 minutes to arrive and tend to her. The tip-off was delayed, a woman’s life was potentially in jeopardy, and this was the result.

Who is to blame for this disaster?

Now, it’s worth noting this isn’t MGM’s fault. The owners of The Mirage simply booked the ballroom, but were not responsible for the event itself.

The organization behind the event, Destination Basketball, gets a double technical for taking down their website and Twitter account. The teams taking part were allegedly told they would be getting a set up like this one, which it turns out they only had the court. Nothing to go along with it.

Other women’s basketball games were taking part throughout the city at suitable venues. This, however, was an unmitigated nightmare. Yes, women’s basketball doesn’t get the attendance that men’s basketball does – for whatever reason. That said, women athletes deserve far better than this.

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Shawn Tempesta is the co-host of Aimee+Shawn on 102.7 VGS in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also an Emmy award nominated television host. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Shawn writes about current events, education, funny and trending stories.

Scenes From The Las Vegas Aces Parade (PICTURES)

You’ll never forget your first.

The Las Vegas Aces won game 4 in the WNBA Finals on Sunday night in Connecticut, taking with them the WNBA Championship and Las Vegas‘ very first major league sports title. With the honor, comes the party! A short parade followed by a massive party in front of the Bellagio fountains.

Fans were rushing from (or playing hooky from) work to make it in time for the event, flocking to the area mostly from the Caesars Palace parking lot. In front of Caesars, a staging area for the parade with Raiderettes, classic cars, members of the Boys & Girls Club and Broadway In The Hood gearing up to take the route. Then, a horn was blasting out of nowhere. Travelling north on Las Vegas Boulevard, a chartered bus with the Las Vegas Aces was barreling down the street! The parade was coming soon!

Aces staff went up and down the parade route handing out signs, pom-poms, rally towels and more.

At 5:30 sharp, the parade began. Down the street came community members holding “CHAMPS” in balloon lettering. Motorcycle cops and the Nevada State Police‘s “Aces” cruisers, local community organizations and more.

Then, the “Big Bus” double-decker buses rolled through. A’ja Wilson, like Rose in Titanic planted at the front of the first bus with the WNBA Championship in her hand and a grin you couldn’t wipe off if you tried. Aces owner Mark Davis standing close by, almost undetectable wearing a hat. Finals MVP Chelsea Gray holding her MVP trophy precariously off the side of the bus.

They headed towards the stage in front of the Bellagio with thousands in attendance awaiting them. So many that they actually closed the other side of Las Vegas Boulevard – something officials weren’t expecting to do.

The famed Las Vegas Strip, playground to tourists from around the world, was for one rare moment taken over by locals. Local organizations, local fans, our local team. It was a special day! Congrats Aces! Here’s to next year!

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