Let’s talk last week in Las Vegas sports (Dec 23 – 29).
Highlights
- Athletics president resigns ahead of Las Vegas move
- A’ja Wilson edges her rivals for another top honor
- Raiders Quarterback situation in limbo after win over Jaguars
- USC Trojans top Texas A&M 35-31 in Las Vegas Bowl
- Raiders win two in a row after knocking off Saints
#5 Athletics president resigns
Key point: The Athletics will have a new President when they come to Las Vegas
Dave Kaval is no longer president of the Athletics after resigning last week. It’s surprising because of how much of a factor Kaval was in moving the A’s to Las Vegas. Now, he won’t be there when the team officially makes the switch. Team owner John Fischer discussed Kaval’s impact over his eight years as president and had this to say.
“We are grateful for Dave’s contributions and leadership over the past eight years,” Fisher said. “He guided our organization through a period of significant transition, and we sincerely thank him for his unwavering commitment to the team.”
“As we look ahead to the next chapter of our franchise, the team will continue to grow under new leadership, driving the organization toward success during our interim years in West Sacramento and at our new home in Las Vegas.”
#4 A’ja Wilson wins Sports Illustrated WNBA Player of the Year

Key point: A’ja Wilson edges out key rivals for Player of the Year
A’ja Wilson dominated 2024 and wrapped up the year with another major accolade. On top of winning MVP and setting the single-season scoring record, she is now Sports Illustrated’s WNBA Player of the Year. The Las Vegas Aces champion edged out some of the league’s best to win the honors.
“There is no easy comparison for her performance,” Sports Illustrated’s Emma Baccellieri wrote on Wednesday.
“No WNBA player has ever scored like Wilson did in 2024. Yet it feels inadequate to suggest her biggest accomplishment this year was breaking the scoring record. What made Wilson’s season impressive was not what she did, but how she did it: No one had ever been so efficient while doing so much to impact the game around her.”
#3 Raiders’ win alters quarterback plans
Key point: Win over Jaguars puts the Raiders in a tough spot
The Las Vegas Raiders are searching for a long-term quarterback and almost had one in the 2025 draft. The team’s position, however, after they beat the Jaguars 19-14 to win their first game since September. Sure, the victory ended the ten-game losing streak, but according to Tankathon, it also dropped the Raiders to sixth in the 2025 draft order.

This all but eliminates their chances of nabbing Shedeur Sanders and once again forces them to rely on a bridge quarterback for another year. There’s already talk that it might be Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold.
Neither is ideal due to age, turnover issues, and desired salaries, but Gardner Minshew needs to go. Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports even hints at Cousins being an instant starter, which is interesting.
#1 Las Vegas Raiders notch second win in a row
Key point: Raiders rock the Saints 25-10
The Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10 on Sunday to earn their fourth win of the season. Daniel Carlson started the festivities with a 34-yard field goal that gave the Raiders a three-point lead.
After some back-and-forth, everything came down to the second half, where two very important things happened.

The first is Daniel Carlson knocking in a 54-yard field goal for a 16-10 lead. The second is that the team managed to keep the Saints out of the endzone for the entire second half while intercepting their quarterback twice.
These two factors, along with a final 18-yard touchdown pass from O’Connell to Tre Tucker, sealed the deal for Raider Nation.
Las Vegas now moves on to the Los Angeles Chargers in the final game of the season