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Aces shake up frontcourt with Turner, Talbot signings; Stokes departs

Aces shake up frontcourt with Turner, Talbot signings; Stokes departs

The Las Vegas Aces continued their roster overhaul Monday, signing forwards Brianna Turner and Stephanie Talbot while losing veteran center Kiah Stokes to the Golden State Valkyries.

Turner, a seven-year WNBA veteran, joins the Aces after spending last season with the Indiana Fever. She averaged 4.1 points and 5.7 rebounds on 57.5 percent shooting over her career, with postseason averages rising to 5.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Turner and Aces guard Jackie Young were teammates on Notre Dame’s 2018 NCAA championship team.

Talbot, an Australian Olympian who won silver at the 2024 Paris Games, brings versatility as a wing defender and three-point shooter. The eight-year veteran holds career averages of 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 35 percent from deep.

Stokes, a key piece of the Aces’ back-to-back championships, signed with Golden State after averaging 1.1 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. She was replaced in the starting lineup by NaLyssa Smith midway through the year, a move coach Becky Hammon attributed to the need for more offense. Smith and guard Dana Evans were officially re-signed Monday.

“Adding another veteran presence to our frontcourt will be very beneficial for our roster this year,” Aces president Nikki Fargas said in a statement. “Brianna is an exceptional defender, rebounder and an even better teammate to have by your side, and we can’t wait to welcome her to Las Vegas.”

Fargas also praised Talbot: “Steph is a versatile wing who can guard multiple positions while shooting from beyond the arc at an elite level. She has had a stellar career in the WNBA, in Australia’s WNBL and as an Olympian, and will add depth to our Aces roster.”

The moves come after the Aces lost center Megan Gustafson to the Portland Fire on Saturday. Stokes is the second free-agent departure this week.

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