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
Silver Stars – The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) basketball team. The team has been around since 2003 and is based in San Antonio, Texas. While the name may seem inspired by the city or its stars, there is an interesting story behind its origin.
In 2002, when it was announced that the WNBA would begin expansion into new cities, including San Antonio, fans were invited to submit ideas for potential nicknames for their hometown team. After considering over 1,000 entries from fans across Texas and beyond – with suggestions ranging from “TexStars” to “Desperados” – one submission stood out above all others: "Silver Stars." This suggestion was chosen because of how closely it connected with the history and culture of the Southwestern United States and was unique among other teams' names.
The nickname also pays homage to a traditional symbol found on many Spanish mission churches throughout Texas; these silver stars can still be seen today adorning some of these buildings, which date back centuries during the early colonization period in America's southwest region. Furthermore, this connection ties perfectly into another important aspect of this franchise - their strong commitment to honoring Hispanic heritage within the local community through various initiatives such as bilingual broadcasts of games or special events like Cinco de Mayo celebrations. All-in-all, it is clear why Silver Stars resonated so strongly amongst voters when they chose what should become the official moniker for the particular home squad.
Championship
WNBA Championships 0
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
- 2003
- 2005
- 2007
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
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Silver Stars Team Creation
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 choice of either being sold to out-of-town investor(s) or folding. The ... -
Margo Dydek – two-time WNBA All-Star
Margo Dydek: She was a two-time WNBA All-Star and a three-time WNBA blocks leader. She played for the Silver Stars in 2005 and 2006 and averaged 10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. She was the tallest player in WNBA history at 7 ft. 2 in. and holds the record for most career blocks with 877 -
The Silver Stars made the playoffs for the first time
In 2007: The Silver Stars have a breakthrough season, finishing with a 20-14 record and making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They defeat the Sacramento Monarchs in the first round, but lose to the Phoenix Mercury in the conference finals. Hammon and Young are both named to the All-WNBA First Team -
Trade for “Big Shot Becky”
On April 4, 2007, during the WNBA Draft, Becky Hammon was traded to the Silver Stars, along with a second-round draft pick in the 2008 draft, for the second overall first-round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft, center Jessica Davenport. Hammon posted career-high averages of 18.8 ppg (fourth-best) and 5.0 APG (first in WNBA) in 2007. While in San Antonio, ... -
The Silver Stars reached in the WNBA Finals
In 2008: The Silver Stars have their best season ever, finishing with a league-best 24-10 record and winning their first conference title. They sweep the Sacramento Monarchs and the Los Angeles Sparks in the playoffs, but are swept by the Detroit Shock in the WNBA Finals. Hammon, Young and Riley are all named to the All-WNBA teams -
The Silver Stars make the playoffs as the fourth seed
In 2009: The Silver Stars finish with a 15-19 record and make the playoffs as the fourth seed. They lose to the Phoenix Mercury in the first round. Hammon is named to the All-WNBA Second Team
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 Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars, previously known as Utah Starzz, have been a part of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) since 2003. The team was previously known as the Utah Starzz and moved to Texas in 2003 when they changed their name. Since then, they have consistently been one of the top teams in the WNBA and are currently tied for third place overall with six playoff appearances.
The Silver Stars have had some great players over their history, including Becky Hammon, who is now an assistant coach for NBA's San Antonio Spurs; Sophia Young-Malcom, who won two Olympic gold medals; Ruth Riley, who won a WNBA championship with Detroit Shock; Danielle Robinson, also played on Team USA at 2012 Olympics in London and many more talented athletes that helped shape this organization into what it is today.
The franchise has seen its share of success throughout its tenure, making four trips to the playoffs and advancing to three Western Conference Finals between 2006 and 2009, where Los Angeles defeated the Sparks each time. Despite not having any championships yet, there’s no denying that this team has made an impact on women’s basketball both locally within the San Antonio area but also nationally through competitive play against other teams from all around the United States during regular season games or special events like All-Star Game which happened a few times already here too! It will be exciting to see how far new additions can take them next year when hopefully, we'll witness the first-ever title victory by our beloved stars!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history