LAS VEGAS – As the general manager of the Las Vegas Aces, Natalie Williams’ duties on any given day range from constructing the team’s roster to negotiating contracts of players and coaches. But as the Aces wrapped up practice at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Tuesday, the day before Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, Williams could be found adding a new duty to her general manager responsibilities: rally towel distribution.
Moving through sections 109 and 110 of the arena, Williams, outfitted with a pair of airpods and an Aces T-shirt, carried a towering stack of white “Raise the Stakes” towels as she went seat by seat placing the Game 2 souvenirs. The sold-out Aces crowd rallied the home team to a commanding 2-0 series Wednesday night.
“As you can see, our motto is ‘All-In,’ ” said Williams, who performed the same duties with the help of her daughters before Game 1. “Everybody works together to get what needs to be done.”
As Las Vegas sits one win away from making history and becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships in 20 years, Williams also stands to make history as the team’s general manager. Should the Aces defeat the New York Liberty, Williams would join a small group of general managers in WNBA history to win back-to-back titles, and would be the first Black general manager in 20 years to accomplish the feat. She will have done it in her first two years as a WNBA general manager.
“I’m just super grateful to be back here,” Williams said. “It’s really special to be a part of it.”
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