LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Aces have officially named a general manager, but it’s a title the team’s president has already been filling for months. Nikki Fargas, who has served as the Aces’ president since May 2021, is now also the general manager, a role she assumed quietly during the WNBA’s free agency period.
Fargas revealed the news Monday after the WNBA draft, when asked how the team navigated the offseason without a GM. “You’re looking at the GM,” she told reporters.
The Aces parted ways with former general manager Natalie Williams in October 2024 and never formally announced a replacement. According to a review of official correspondence, Fargas was first referenced as “president and general manager” on Feb. 24. The organizational structure, however, has remained largely unchanged.
“It’s just an added title,” Fargas said. “We’ve always been a collaborative front office. I’ve got some really good coaches that go out and help in evaluating the talent.”
Head coach Becky Hammon, whose title remains unchanged, has been a key part of that collaboration. “(Fargas) does all the stuff I don’t want to do, which is, like, jump on phone calls, talk to all these people. I’m a basketball person. Keep me in my lane,” Hammon said. “We were definitely a good tag team in that aspect (this offseason).”
Fargas, a former head coach at LSU and UCLA and a Tennessee graduate, said her background made the transition natural. “With my background, it just seemed a little bit natural for me to slide into (the general manager) responsibility,” she said. “I’ve got an amazing front office staff that allows me to be able to do both.”
The Aces front office had to navigate an abbreviated free agency period due to WNBA collective bargaining negotiations. Despite the challenges, Fargas praised the team’s ability to retain core players like A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd, while adding new faces. The team’s only departures from last season’s championship roster were Megan Gustafson, Kiah Stokes, and Aaliyah Nye.
“They stayed in contact with each other. A’ja and Jackie were still communicating and talking with their teammates,” Fargas said. “When you’re in this window, it’s really short. Do we wish that there was a longer time for people to make decisions? Of course we would, but this is a historical moment.”
