Las Vegas, NV (March 2, 2022)—Las Vegas Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon announced today that the team has signed veteran guard Sydney Colson (SID-nee COAL-sun).
This will be Colson’s third stint with the franchise, having previously played for the San Antonio Stars from 2015-17, and the Aces in 2019.
“I’m excited to see Sydney in training camp,” said Hammon. “I know how hard she worked in San Antonio to establish herself in the WNBA, and she had arguably her best year in the league with the Aces in 2019. We had the opportunity to see her quite a bit during the Athletes Unlimited season, and that competitive fire is definitely still there.”
“I’m excited that the Aces reached out, and I’m very much looking forward to being in training camp again,” said Colson. “I knew I could still compete last season when I was out of the league, but I believe in divine timing, and I try not to question things. I’m all about seizing the moment and the opportunity that’s in front of me, so that’s what I plan to go do.”
Originally selected by the Connecticut Sun in the second round (No. 16 overall) in the 2011 WNBA Draft, Colson was traded to New York that same day, and went on to play in 16 games for the Liberty as a rookie.
She was waived during training camp in 2012, and had to wait until the 2015 season to make her way back to the W, signing as a free agent with San Antonio. In three years with the Stars, Colson averaged 3.9 points, and 2.5 assists in 96 games.
The Texas A&M graduate was in the Aces training camp in 2018, but was waived on May 17. She went on to sign with the Minnesota Lynx, but returned to Las Vegas the following year.
Colson averaged 3.3 points and 1.8 for the Aces that season, while making 45.0 percent of her three-pointers. She etched her name in Las Vegas sports lore for the part she played in the Hamby Heave. Chicago led the Aces, 92-90, with 13 seconds remaining in their single-elimination Second Round Playoff Game. All the Sky seemingly had to do was inbound the ball, get fouled, and seal the win by making their free throws.
The inbounds pass went to point guard Courtney Vandersloot—the best point guard in the game, and an 85.0 percent free throw shooter on the season. The Aces’ Kelsey Plum gave chase in the back court, but Sloot was able to shake her, and began a sprint toward half court.
Colson had the presence of mind to run at Sloot, causing her to pick up her dribble for a jump pass to Diamond DeShields who was standing safely across the timeline. Dearica Hamby stepped in front of the pass for the steal, tip-toed the sideline, and launched what would prove to be the game-winning three-pointer with 5.3 seconds remaining.
The following season, Colson signed with Chicago as a free agent, appearing in 17 games.
During the 2021-22 offseason, Colson helped launch the inaugural season of the Athletes Unlimited new basketball league. Not only did she play in the league, but Colson served on its Player Executive Committee. The 5-8 Houston native finished 12th in AU’s unique scoring system, while averaging 11.4 points and 6.9 assists per game. Colson also connected on the shot of the year, when she drained a game-winning, overtime buzzer-beater from half court in the season’s fourth week.