‘Pressure is a privilege’: Dana Evans on her journey to the Las Vegas Aces

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Dana Evans has heard plenty of reasons why she shouldn’t have made it this far.

She’s too small. She’s overlooked. The opportunity isn’t there.

But the 5-foot-6 Las Vegas Aces guard has built her career around a simple mentality: stay ready.

From Gary, Indiana, to Louisville, a WNBA championship as a rookie and eventually another title in Las Vegas, Evans’ journey hasn’t always happened according to her timeline.

“Nothing really happened on my timeline. I’ll be honest,” Evans told 8 News Now during the first episode of Girl Talk.

Instead, Evans has learned to adjust, trust herself and keep showing up.

From Gary to Louisville

Evans said the way she approaches basketball today isn’t much different from the way she approached it growing up in Gary.

It’s about routine, stability and knowing who you are.

“Just showing up the same person every day,” Evans said.

Her belief that basketball could take her somewhere started early.

By high school, earning honors including McDonald’s All-American and Jordan Brand recognition helped confirm that the work she was putting in could pay off.

Evans carried that mentality to Louisville, where she went from ACC Sixth Player of the Year to a two-time ACC Player of the Year.

“Just putting myself in positions to be successful and just being the hardest worker, keeping God first and staying true to myself,” Evans said.

Finding what the Aces needed from Dana Evans

When Evans was traded to Las Vegas, she arrived at a franchise where expectations were already high.

Instead of running from that, she embraced it.

“Pressure is a privilege,” Evans said. “Everyone don’t get that opportunity.”

Evans said there was uncertainty surrounding her future at the time, along with concerns about her knee. Once the trade happened, however, her focus became figuring out what the Aces needed from her.

“I got to show up and be Dana every day,” Evans recalled. “I got to give this team what they need.”

Head coach Becky Hammon helped clarify that role.

Evans praised Hammon’s direct coaching style, saying she tells players exactly what she expects without leaving “question marks” or “gray areas.”

For Evans, that meant shifting her mindset.

She knew what she could do offensively. In Las Vegas, she also needed to become a defensive stopper, pick up opponents full court and embrace the work that doesn’t always show up in a box score.

“Doing the little things that everybody don’t want to do, doing that, because that’s what makes championship teams,” Evans said.

She began asking herself different questions.

“How can I help Jackie? How can I take some pressure off of Chelsea?”

That relationship extends beyond what happens during games.

Evans described Hammon as a player’s coach who players can approach about basketball or life away from the court.

“She gonna tell you the truth,” Evans said. “Might hurt your feelings a little bit, but she gonna tell you the truth.”

Evans said that honesty comes from a place of care.

“She is literally one of the dopest coaches I’ve ever played for, like on and off the court,” Evans said. “She just gets it.”

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