LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Vegas Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final ended in Game 6, with the Carolina Hurricanes claiming the championship. Despite the loss, FOX5 sports reporter Paloma Villicana said the Knights’ postseason run was a story worth celebrating.
“They fire Bruce Cassidy eight games left in the regular season, they hire John Tortorella, ignite a new spark — they weren’t even supposed to be there,” she said. “For them to be on that stage, pretty incredible to see their postseason run.”
MORE ON FOX5: AMPLIFIED: Las Vegas sports teams in full swing with Knights, Aces, Raiders and A’s all in action
Knights fall short, but fans stay loyal
Villicana says that fans at the arena acknowledged the outcome without deflecting blame.
“The ones that were diehard fans said, ‘Hey, we just didn’t play as well as the other team,’” she said.
The Knights appeared to run out of steam by the final game, they had several near misses including a Jack Eichel power-play shot that hit the crossbar.
“Game six was all Carolina,” Villicana said. “They earned that Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes were dominant all postseason.”
Carolina goalie Brandon Bussey was credited with shutting down Vegas’s offense throughout the game.
The Knights have now appeared in the Stanley Cup Final three times in nine years, winning once.
Aces on a six-game win streak
The Las Vegas Aces entered the week on a six-game winning streak, with a home game scheduled for Sunday. The team’s recent history reinforces the city’s championship expectations.
“Last year they went through adversity, they were in a losing slump, and everyone counted them out — and they went on to win a WNBA championship,” Villicana said. “Becky Hammon and A’ja Wilson, that team over there is so dominant.”
Raiders wrap up minicamp
The Las Vegas Raiders completed minicamp last week. The quarterback situation between Kirk Cousins and Mendoza is less a competition than a collaborative effort to learn the new system under head coach Clint Kubiak.
“It’s a brand new team, so they’re all helping each other learn the playbook, get together, get the reps down, build the chemistry on and off the field,” Villicana said.
Kubiak, a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks, has brought structure and organization to the program.
“For the first time in a long time, there’s experience and leadership in the quarterback room,” Villicana said. “They have depth — that is important in sports.”
Training camp is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. UNLV, under head coach Dan Mullen, is also preparing for fall camp.
A’s visit Summerlin ballpark; MLS talk grows
The Oakland Athletics played a series at the Las Vegas ballpark last week, sweeping both games including a 23-9 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Villicana attended her first game at the venue and said the facility impressed her.
“What a great venue — I was driving up and thinking, ‘I don’t have to pay for parking?’” she said.
The A’s move to Las Vegas is expected to bring broader community and economic benefits, citing conversations with team executive Mark Bedain about the franchise’s community involvement plans.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup generating soccer buzz, talk of a potential MLS expansion team in Las Vegas has also resurfaced. It wouldn’t be surprising since MLS games have already been held at Allegiant Stadium.
Conor McGregor is scheduled to fight in Las Vegas in July as part of a UFC event.
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