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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 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.
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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, Hammon earned the nickname, “Big Shot Becky” because of her ability to hit shots in clutch moments. It comes from the nickname “Big Shot Bob” given to San Antonio Spurs forward, Robert Horry.
The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league’s inaugural 1997 season began; then moved to San Antonio before the 2003 season and became the San Antonio Silver Stars.
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 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.
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
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history