LAS VEGAS (April 10, 2026)—The Las Vegas Aces announced today that the team will host the Japan Women’s Basketball National Team in a preseason exhibition game presented by Las Vegas at Michelob ULTRA Arena on April 26 at 5 p.m.

Tickets for the game against Japan, as well as all 22 regular season home games, are on sale now.

One of four original WNBA franchises still in existence, the Aces will use the exhibition contest as part of their preparations ahead of the franchise’s historic 30th season. The 2026 season officially tips off with the Aces 2025 championship ring ceremony at T-Mobile Arena on May 9, when the first 7,500 fans will receive a “Three of a Kind” flag, replicating shirts and signage seen at the third Aces Championship Celebration.

This marks the third time the Aces will face international competition after the team hosted the Puerto Rico National Team at the University of South Carolina on May 11, 2024, and the China National Team at home on May 6, 2018. The Aces defeated the islanders 102-50 in A’ja Wilson’s homecoming and downed China 98-63 in their first game in Las Vegas. Prior to moving to Las Vegas via San Antonio, the Utah Starzz hosted China on May 11, 2002, in West Valley City, Utah.

About the Japan Women’s Basketball National Team
Ranked No. 10 in the world and No. 3 in Asia, Japan recently secured a berth in the 2026 FIBA Basketball World Cup during the qualifying tournament held March 11-17 in Türkiye.

Coached by Corey Gaines, who directed Phoenix to the 2009 WNBA championship, Japan’s roster at the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Tournament included Mai Yamamoto, who was named to the All-Star Five after leading her team with 15.0 ppg, 1.2 spg and efficiency (13.8), while adding 3.6 apg. Rui Machida and Ramu Tokashiki, both of whom also competed in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament, have WNBA experience. Olympic silver medalist Machida played for Washington in 2022, and 2015 WNBA All-Rookie Team selection Tokashiki played for Seattle from 2015-2017.

Japan’s roster for the preseason game against the Aces will be announced at a later date.

Japan is a team that’s seen varying success over the past five years, claiming silver at the 2020 Olympics (played in 2021), gold at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, silver at the 2023 and 2025 FIBA Asia Cups, and finishing 9th at the 2022 FIBA World Cup and 12th at the 2024 Olympics.

About the Las Vegas Aces
One of the WNBA’s original franchises, the Las Vegas Aces trace their lineage to the Beehive State where they began life as the Utah Starzz in 1997. The franchise relocated to San Antonio in 2003, before moving to the Sports & Entertainment Capital of the World prior to the 2018 season. Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis purchased the team in 2021, and Aces fans were rewarded with back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first WNBA team in more than two decades to repeat as champions. The 2022 team also became the first major professional sports franchise to bring a championship to the state of Nevada. In 2025, the Aces ran it back, earning their third WNBA title in four years.

In addition to the Aces success on the court, they have been equally successful in their off-court endeavors. In March 2022, the team moved into a 50,000 square foot headquarters—the first complex built solely for use by a WNBA team. In March 2024, Las Vegas became the first WNBA franchise to sell out its season ticket allotment as well as the first to sell out the entirety of the season. The Aces again sold out their season ticket memberships in 2025 and 2026. Additionally, Las Vegas anticipates hosting its 50th consecutive sellout at Michelob ULTRA Arena when it returns to “The House” on May 23.

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