Las Vegas Aces

Las Vegas Aces
Conference	Western
Founded	1997
League	WNBA
History	Utah Starzz 1997–2002 San Antonio Silver Stars 2003–2013 San Antonio Stars 2014–2017 Las Vegas Aces 2018–present
Arena	Michelob Ultra Arena
Location	Paradise, Nevada
Team colors	Red, black, gold, silver
General manager	Natalie Williams
Head coach	Becky Hammon
Asisstant(s)	Natalie Nakase Tyler Marsh Charlene Thomas-Swinson
Owners	Mark Davis
Championships	2 (2022, 2023)
Conference titles	4 (2008, 2020, 2022, 2023)
Retired numbers	1 (25)

The Las Vegas Aces are a professional basketball team based in Paradise, Nevada, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Aces play their games at Michelob Ultra Arena, part of the Mandalay Bay casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip.

Franchise history

The Utah Starzz Years (1997–2002)

Main article: Utah Starzz

One of the eight original WNBA teams, the Utah Starzz (partially named after the old ABA team, the Utah Stars, but with the zz at the end like the Utah Jazz) never met the same success as their (former) counterpart in the NBA, the Utah Jazz. They held the distinction of having the worst record in the WNBA in 1997 and were the first team to select in the 1998 WNBA Draft. With their selection, they picked 7 ft. 2 in. center Margo Dydek, who easily became the tallest player in WNBA history. Unfortunately, the pickup of Dydek did little to help their cause and they again finished near the bottom of the league in the 1998 & 1999 seasons. The Starzz finally posted a winning record in 2000, but did not make the playoffs. In 2001, the Utah Starzz made it to the playoffs for the first time, but they were quickly swept in the first round by the Sacramento Monarchs. In 2002, the Starzz made it to the playoffs again, and this time beat the Houston Comets in the Western Conference Semifinals 2 games to 1. Their playoff run ended in the Western Finals, however, as they were swept aside by the eventual champs, the Los Angeles Sparks.

The San Antonio Stars years (2003–2017)

Main article: San Antonio Stars

When the NBA divested itself of all of its WNBA franchises at the end of the 2002 season, the Utah Jazz ownership did not wish to retain ownership of the Starzz. The Starzz then looked for local Utah potential buyers, but none were found, leaving the franchise with the choices of either being sold to out-of-town investor(s) or folding. The Starzz avoided being folded when the franchise was sold to Peter Holt (the owner of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs) and relocated to San Antonio, Texas. The team's name was changed to the San Antonio Silver Stars and would change its team colors to the silver and black motif used by the Spurs.

For the first four seasons (2003–2006) after moving to San Antonio, the franchise was unable to change its old losing trend and did not make the playoffs, in sharp contrast to their current NBA counterpart, the San Antonio Spurs. From 1997-2002, the Utah Starzz had a record of 87-99. From 2003-2006, the San Antonio Silver Stars record was 41-88.

The 2007 season brought a lot of change for the Silver Stars. They acquired stars Becky Hammon, Ruth Riley, and Sandora Irvin in trades, selected Helen Darling in Charlotte Sting's dispersal draft, drafted Camille Little in the second round, signed Erin Buescher during the off-season, and retained key players, such as Marie Ferdinand-Harris, Vickie Johnson, Shanna Crossley, Kendra Wecker, and Sophia Young. The new-look Silver Stars became an instant contender in the Western Conference. On August 4, 2007 the Silver Stars clinched their first playoff berth since the franchise relocated to San Antonio in 2003. In the first round, the Silver Stars were matched up against the Sacramento Monarchs. After losing game 1 in Sacramento, the Silver Stars would win games 2 and 3 to advance to the Western Finals. The Silver Stars faced off against a strong Phoenix Mercury team, which had the number 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Silver Stars would lose Game 1 at home 102-100 on a controversial call by ref Lisa Mattingly. Mattingly called a foul on Shanna Crossley with 2.1 seconds left in the game and the score tied at 100. Replay showed that Crossley made no contact with Phoenix's Cappie Pondexter. However, Pondexter was sent to the line and made both free throws and Crossley's half-court shot to win the game nearly went in. On September 1, 2007 the Silver Stars' season came to an end after the Stars lost Game 2 98-92 in Phoenix.

Heading into in 2008, the Silver Stars were regarded as a premiere contender and did not disappoint. After an average start, the Stars seized control of the Western Conference and rode to the best record in the West, and the #1 seed in the playoffs. In the first round, the Silver Stars once again faced off against the Sacramento Monarchs. Unlike 2007, the Stars won Game 1 on the road, 85-78. But the Monarchs would prove pesky, spoiling a potential clinch in Game 2 crushing the Silver Stars at home 84-67. Now the Silver Stars had to win game 3 or face an offseason of disappointment. In the Game, the Silver Stars would secure a 14 point lead and it seemed over. But a late rally by the Monarchs, including the last seven points in regulation, sent the game into overtime. In overtime, the Silver Stars clamped down and proved they were the better team, defeating the Monarchs 86-81, advancing to the Western Conference Finals for the second season in a row. In the West Finals, the Stars faced the resurgent Los Angeles Sparks team. In Game 1 in LA, the Stars took an early lead, but an 11-0 run by the Sparks into the half changed the tempo of the game and the Sparks took Game 1 85-70. In Game 2, the Silver Stars blew a fourteen point lead in the final quarter, as the Sparks took a one point lead with 1.3 seconds left. The Stars season was over unless there would be a miracle. Fortunately for the Stars, Sophia Young delivered with a 14-foot turnaround shot to lift the Silver Stars to a 67-66 game 2. It came down to Game 3, with a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line. The two teams battled down the stretch, but the stellar play of Becky Hammon, who had 35 points and 4 crucial free throws, would lift the Silver Stars to their first WNBA Finals, defeating the Sparks 76-72. In the WNBA Finals, the Silver Stars faced the Detroit Shock, who were making their third WNBA Finals appearance in a row. In Game 1 at home, the Silver Stars fell behind early, but would tie the game at 69 with 2:15 left in the 4th quarter. But from there the Shock took control once again and won the game 77-69.

By the time the 2009 season opened, San Antonio were already on a struggling basis, being stuck in fourth place in the West throughout the year. However, the Silver Stars eventually started to rise a bit and later clinched a playoff berth, despite a sub-500 record of 15-19. After winning the first game against the Phoenix Mercury, the Silver Stars were unable to recover and lost the remaining two games to lose the series 2-1.

The 2010 season was not much different for the Stars. They finished with an unimpressive 14–20 record but sneaked into the third seed of the playoffs in a below-average Western Conference. The Silver Stars were swept in the first round of the playoffs by Phoenix and it was clear that some changes were needed. In the 2012 playoffs, the Silver Stars lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks. The team would miss the playoffs in 2013. In the 2014 playoffs, the Stars would lose in the first round to the Minnesota Lynx.

Relocation to Las Vegas

After the Spurs Sports & Entertainment decided to put the team up for sale after the 2017 season it became apparent the team would be on the move. The NBA and WNBA approved the sale of the Stars to MGM Resorts on October 17, 2017, with the intention of relocating the team to Las Vegas and playing at the Mandalay Bay Events Center starting in the 2018 season. On December 11, 2017, at a press conference inside the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, the team name was officially announced as the Las Vegas Aces. They received the first pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, and picked South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson.

Season-by-season records

Head coaches

• Denise Taylor (1997)
• Frank Layden (1998)
• Frank Williams (1999–2001)
• Candi Harvey (2001–2003)
• Shell Dailey (2003), interim
• Dee Brown (2004)
• Vonn Read (2004), interim
• Shell Dailey (2004), interim
• Dan Hughes (2005–2010)
• Sandy Brondello (2010)
• Dan Hughes (2011–2016)
• Vickie Johnson (2016–2017)

Former players

File:ATTCenter.jpg

The AT&T Center, home of the Silver Stars

• Danielle Adams (2011–2015)
• Chantelle Anderson (2005–2007)
• Shyra Ely (2005–2006)
• Jennifer Azzi (2000–2003)
• Elena Baranova (1997–1999)
• Edna Campbell (2005)
• Sylvia Crawley (2003)
• Margo Dydek (1998–2004)
• Marie Ferdinand (2003–2007)
• Adrienne Goodson (1999–2004)
• Dena Head (1997–1998)
• Chamique Holdsclaw (2010)
• Shannon "Pee Wee" Johnson (2004–2006)
• Vickie Johnson (2006–2009)
• Wendy Palmer-Daniel (1997–1999, 2005)
• Semeka Randall (2002–2004)
• Olympia Scott (1998–1999)
• Michelle Snow (2010)
• Kate Starbird (2000–2002)
• LaToya Thomas (2004–2006)
• Ann Wauters (2008–2009)
• Adrian Williams (2004)
• Natalie Williams (1999–2002)

All-Time Notes

All-Time Draft Picks

• 2003 Miami Sol/Portland Fire Dispersal Draft: LaQuanda Barksdale (12)
• 2003: Coretta Brown (11), Ke-Ke Tardy (25), Brooke Armistead (40)
• 2004 Cleveland Rockers Dispersal Draft: LaToya Thomas (3)
• 2004: Cindy Dallas (21), Toccara Williams (34)
• 2005: Kendra Wecker (4), Shyra Ely (14), Catherine Kraayeveld (27)
• 2006: Sophia Young (4), Shanna Crossley (16), Khara Smith (30)
• 2007 Charlotte Sting Dispersal Draft: Helen Darling (4)
• 2007: Camille Little (17), Nare Diawara (30)
• 2008: Chioma Nnamaka (21), Alex Anderson (39)
• 2009 Houston Comets Dispersal Draft: Selection Waived
• 2009: Megan Frazee (14), Sonja Petrovic (26), Candyce Bingham (39)
• 2010 Sacramento Monarchs Dispersal Draft: Laura Harper (5)
• 2010: Jayne Appel (5), Alysha Clark (17), Alexis Rack (29)
• 2011: Danielle Robinson (6), Danielle Adams (20), Porsha Phillips (30)
• 2012: Shenise Johnson (5)
• 2013: Kayla Alexander (8), Davellyn Whyte (16), Diandra Tchatchouang (20), Whitney Hand (32)
• 2014: Kayla McBride (3), Astou Ndour (16), Bri Kulas (28)
• 2015: Dearica Hamby (6), Dragana Stanković (30), Nikki Moody (33)
• 2016: Moriah Jefferson (2), Brittney Martin (25)
• 2017: Kelsey Plum (1), Nia Coffey (5), Schaquilla Nunn (25)
• 2018: A'ja Wilson (1), Jaime Nared (13), Raigyne Louis (25), Jill Barta (32)
• 2019: Jackie Young (1)
• 2020: Lauren Manis (33)
• 2021: Iliana Rupert (12), Destiny Slocum (14), Kionna Jeter (36)
• 2022: Mya Hollingshed (8), Kierstan Bell (11), Kayla Pointer (13), Aisha Sheppard (23), Faustine Aifuwa (35)

All-Stars

• 2003: Marie Ferdinand
• 2004: Shannon Johnson
• 2005: Marie Ferdinand
• 2006: Sophia Young
• 2007: Becky Hammon, Sophia Young
• 2008: No All-Star Game
• 2009: Becky Hammon, Sophia Young
• 2010: Jayne Appel, Becky Hammon, Michelle Snow, Sophia Young
• 2011: Danielle Adams, Becky Hammon
• 2012: No All-Star Game
• 2013: Danielle Robinson
• 2014: Danielle Robinson
• 2015: Kayla McBride, Danielle Robinson
• 2016: No All-Star Game
• 2018: Kayla McBride, A'ja Wilson
• 2019: Liz Cambage, Kayla McBride, A'ja Wilson
• 2020: No All-Star Game
• 2021: Liz Cambage, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, A'ja Wilson
• 2022: Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum, A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young