Aces add Latson as roster reset continues

The Las Vegas Aces kept reshaping the back end of their roster Wednesday, signing rookie guard Ta’Niya Latson to a development player contract.

Latson gives Las Vegas a young scoring guard with a strong college résumé and a different path than the team’s other recent addition. The Sparks drafted Latson No. 20 overall in the second round of the 2026 WNBA Draft before waiving her July 6.

Another roster swing

The move continues a quick roster reset for Las Vegas.

The Aces waived Chennedy Carter on Tuesday, signed 6-foot-4 guard/forward Justine Pissott later that day and added Latson on Wednesday. Carter gave Las Vegas efficient bench scoring when available, while Pissott and Latson give the Aces two young development options with different profiles.

Pissott brings size and shooting. Latson brings downhill scoring, creation upside and a track record of carrying offense before learning how to play a smaller role at a national power.

Scoring résumé

Latson’s college numbers are hard to miss.

She played three seasons at Florida State before transferring to South Carolina for her senior year. Across 128 college starts, Latson averaged 20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 83.4 percent from the free throw line.

Her biggest scoring season came as a junior at Florida State. Latson led NCAA Division I with 25.2 points per game and earned Associated Press and USBWA All-America second-team honors.

She also was the 2023 USBWA and WBCA National Freshman of the Year and a three-time All-ACC first-team selection.

Role shift

Latson’s senior season showed a different layer.

At South Carolina, she started all 35 games and averaged 14.1 points and 3.6 assists while helping the Gamecocks go 36-4 and finish as the NCAA runner-up. Her usage dropped, but her efficiency improved. She shot 48.6 percent from the field and cut her turnovers to 1.7 per game.

That matters for Las Vegas because Latson is not arriving as an instant rotation fix. She is a development bet with scoring upside, experience in multiple roles and a chance to grow inside a veteran guard room.

Latson also spoke about the edge she built in the South during her college career.

“My competitive spirit comes from the South. Here, you gotta come with an edge. It’s really good competition, really good coaches. It’s an attitude,” Latson told Southern Living.