Established
1997
City
Salt Lake City – San Antonio – Las Vegas
League History
1997 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
2018 – Present / Las Vegas Aces
2014 – 2017 / San Antonio Stars
2002 – 2013 / San Antonio Silver Stars
1997 – 2002 / Utah Starzz
Nickname
Aces – The Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) are a professional basketball team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Aces have been around since 2018 and have quickly become one of the most popular teams in the WNBA. But where did their name come from?
The nickname “Aces” originates from two sources: firstly, it is an homage to aviators who flew into what was then known as McCarran International Airport (now known as Reno-Tahoe International Airport). Secondly, it also pays tribute to iconic entertainers who performed at legendary venues on and off The Strip, such as Dean Martin at the Sands Hotel & Casino or Frank Sinatra at Caesar's Palace.
In addition to its historical roots, ‘Aces’ represents luck and chance—two elements synonymous with Las Vegas itself! It captures perfectly how even though you can never predict exactly what will happen during a game or season, you can always count on some exciting moments when watching an Aces game!
Ultimately, whether they win or lose games throughout this upcoming season, there's no denying that having 'Las Vegas' emblazoned across their chests gives them instant recognition amongst sports fans everywhere - making them one of the most recognizable franchises in all professional sports today!
Championship
WNBA Championships 2
2023, 2022
Arena
2018 – Present / Mandalay Bay Events Center
*San Antonio*
2003 – 2017 / AT&T Center
*Salt Lake City*
1997 – 2002 / Delta Center
Owner
2018 – Present / MGM Resorts International
2003 – 2017 / Peter Holt
1997 – 2002 / Larry H. Miller
- 2018
- 2020
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2022
- 2023
-
Aces Team Creation
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 Mandalay Bay Events Center. The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league’s inaugural 1997 season. It then moved to San Antonio, Texas before the 2003 season and became the San Antonio Silver Stars, later shortened to the San Antonio Stars in ... -
2020 Season For Aces
In 2020: The Aces have their best season ever, finishing with an 18-4 record, the best in the league. They play in a bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are without Cambage and Kelsey Plum, who opt out and suffer an injury respectively. They draft Lauren Manis, a forward from Holy Cross, with ... -
A’ja Wilson – 2020 WNBA MVP
In 2020: The Las Vegas Aces advance to the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history, but are swept by the Seattle Storm. A’ja Wilson is named the WNBA Most Valuable Player and an All-Star. -
The Aces make the playoffs as the first seed in the Western Conference
In 2021: The Aces finish with a 24-8 record and make the playoffs as the first seed in the Western Conference. They acquire Chelsea Gray, a guard from Duke, in free agency. They also draft Iliana Rupert, a center from France, with the 12th overall pick in the WNBA Draft. They also draft Destiny Slocum, a guard from Arkansas, with ... -
Las Vegas Aces win their first WNBA Commissioner’s Cup
In 2022: The Las Vegas Aces also win their first WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, beating Seattle Storm in one game for $500,000 prize money. -
Las Vegas Aces Finally Win the Champions in 2022
The 2022 WNBA Finals, officially the WNBA Finals 2022, presented by YouTube TV for sponsorship reasons, was the best-of-five championship series for the 2022 season of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The finals featured the first-seeded Las Vegas Aces facing off against the third-seeded Connecticut Sun. The Aces defeated the Sun in 4 games, winning their first WNBA Championship. ... -
Repeat for the Aces in the WNBA Finals
The Aces had a successful season, reaching the finals for the third time in their franchise history. The team was led by head coach Becky Hammon, who guided them to the league title in the previous year . The Aces’ franchise has been based in Las Vegas since 2018, and they have quickly become a strong contender in the league ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Aces
The Las Vegas Aces, previously known as the San Antonio Stars, is a professional women’s basketball team that competes in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The franchise was founded in 1997 as the Utah Starzz and relocated to San Antonio, Texas, where they were known as the Silver Stars until 2014. In 2017, MGM Resorts International purchased an expansion team for Las Vegas and named them the Aces. Since then, this passionate group of female athletes has made their mark on WNBA history with impressive accomplishments over their short three years.
In 2018, under first-year head coach Bill Laimbeer and second-overall draft pick A'ja Wilson from South Carolina University, the Aces had one of their best seasons ever by finishing 21–13, which earned them fourth place overall in standings, after missing playoffs since 2003 when they were still based out of Utah. They also set multiple records, including the most wins by an expansion team at home with 13 victories at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Following this success story, in the 2019 season, despite dealing with numerous injuries throughout the roster, Las Vegas managed to clinch the third seed for playoffs. Eventually, they lost against Phoenix Mercury 3–2 during the semifinal series.
Finally, the 2020 season saw more progress from the young core led by Liz Cambage, who led the league, scoring an average of 24 points per game while shooting 55% from the field along with ten rebounds per match, earning her All-Star MVP honors, plus Cheryl Ford Coach Of Year award going to Bill Laimbeer who guided his squad all way up into finals only losing it 2–3 versus Seattle Storm due lack experience playing such high-pressure games on a grand stage like Finals series itself thus ending promising campaign prematurely yet leaving behind the hope that 2021 could be the year when NV finally breaks through championship barrier bringing joy not just fans but whole city alike!
Sports Fan Products
Aja Wilson Player History: From Rookie to MVP in the WNBA!
Join us as we delve into the impressive player history of Aja Wilson, from her early days as a rookie in the WNBA to becoming the coveted MVP. Witness her journey, growth, and undeniable talent that propelled her to the top of the league. Learn about the hard work, dedication, and skill that defined her rise to greatness in this exclusive video. Don't miss out on this inspiring story of Aja Wilson's transformation from a rookie to an MVP powerhouse in the WNBA!
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history