History of Las Vegas Aces in Timeline

The Las Vegas Aces are a WNBA team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. They play their home games at Michelob Ultra Arena and are headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. The Aces have achieved significant success, winning the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Championship. They followed this with another WNBA Championship in 2023, becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles since 2001 and 2002. The Aces then secured their third championship in four years in 2025.

1997: Worst record in the WNBA

In 1997, the Utah Starzz held the distinction of having the worst record in the WNBA.

1997: Team founded as Utah Starzz

In 1997, the team was founded in Salt Lake City as the Utah Starzz before the league's inaugural season.

1998: Selected Margo Dydek in the WNBA draft

In 1998, the Utah Starzz selected 7 ft. 2 in. center Margo Dydek, who became the tallest player in WNBA history.

1999: Finished near the bottom of the league

In 1999, the Utah Starzz finished near the bottom of the league for the second consecutive year.

2000: Posted a winning record

In 2000, the Utah Starzz posted a winning record, but did not make the playoffs.

2001: Los Angeles Sparks completed back-to-back Championships

In 2001, the Los Angeles Sparks began their back-to-back championship run, a feat that the Aces would later emulate in 2022 and 2023.

2001: Made it to the playoffs for the first time

In 2001, the Utah Starzz made it to the playoffs for the first time but were swept in the first round by the Sacramento Monarchs.

2002: Sold to Peter Holt and relocated to San Antonio

At the end of the 2002 season, the Utah Jazz ownership did not wish to retain ownership of the Starzz, and the franchise was sold to Peter Holt and relocated to San Antonio. The team was renamed to the San Antonio Silver Stars.

2002: Los Angeles Sparks completed back-to-back Championships

In 2002, the Los Angeles Sparks completed their back-to-back championship run, a feat that the Aces would later emulate in 2022 and 2023.

2002: Made it to the playoffs again, beat the Houston Comets, lost to Los Angeles Sparks in Western Finals

In 2002, the Utah Starzz made it to the playoffs again, beating the Houston Comets in the Western Conference Semifinals before being swept by the Los Angeles Sparks in the Western Finals.

2003: Team moved to San Antonio and became the San Antonio Silver Stars

Before the 2003 season, the team relocated to San Antonio and became the San Antonio Silver Stars.

2003: Continued losing trend after moving to San Antonio

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.

2006: Continued losing trend after moving to San Antonio

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.

August 4, 2007: Clinched first playoff berth since relocating to San Antonio

On August 4, 2007, the San Antonio Silver Stars clinched their first playoff berth since the franchise relocated to San Antonio in 2003.

September 1, 2007: Season ended after losing to Phoenix Mercury

On September 1, 2007, the San Antonio Silver Stars' season came to an end after losing Game 2 to the Phoenix Mercury 98–92.

2008: Reached WNBA Finals, lost to Detroit Shock

In 2008, the San Antonio Silver Stars reached the WNBA Finals but lost to the Detroit Shock 77-69 in Game 1.

2008: WNBA Finals appearance

In 2008, the Stars reached the WNBA Finals but lost to the Detroit Shock.

2010: Sneaked into playoffs, swept by Phoenix

In 2010, the San Antonio Stars finished with a 14-20 record but sneaked into the playoffs, where they were swept in the first round by Phoenix.

2012: Lost in the first round of the playoffs to Los Angeles Sparks

In the 2012 playoffs, the San Antonio Stars lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Sparks.

2013: Missed the playoffs

In 2013, the San Antonio Stars missed the playoffs.

2014: San Antonio Silver Stars shortened to San Antonio Stars

In 2014, the San Antonio Silver Stars were renamed to the San Antonio Stars.

2014: Lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Lynx

In the 2014 playoffs, the San Antonio Stars lost in the first round to the Minnesota Lynx.

October 17, 2017: Sale of Stars to MGM Resorts approved

On October 17, 2017, the NBA and WNBA approved the sale of the San Antonio Stars to MGM Resorts with the intention of relocating the team to Las Vegas.

December 11, 2017: Team name officially announced as Las Vegas Aces

On December 11, 2017, the team name was officially announced as the Las Vegas Aces at a press conference inside the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

2018: Team relocated to Las Vegas

Before the 2018 season, the team relocated to Las Vegas.

2018: Received first pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft

In 2018, the Las Vegas Aces received the first pick in the WNBA Draft and selected A'ja Wilson from South Carolina.

2020: WNBA Finals appearance

In 2020, the Stars reached the WNBA Finals but lost to the Seattle Storm.

January 14, 2021: Mark Davis agreed to purchase the team

On January 14, 2021, Mark Davis, owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, agreed to purchase the team from MGM.

February 12, 2021: Purchase of the team by Davis approved

On February 12, 2021, the league approved the purchase of the Las Vegas Aces by Mark Davis.

May 2021: Nikki Fargas hired as team president

In May 2021, Mark Davis hired former LSU Lady Tigers basketball head coach Nikki Fargas as team president.

December 31, 2021: Becky Hammon hired as head coach

On December 31, 2021, Becky Hammon was hired as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, becoming the highest paid coach in the WNBA.

2022: Aces win first championship

During the 2022 season, the Aces won the franchise's first championship and the first professional sports championship for Las Vegas by defeating the Connecticut Sun in the 2022 WNBA Finals.

2022: Won 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup and WNBA championship

In 2022, the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Commissioner's Cup and the WNBA championship, marking a significant achievement for the team.

2022: WNBA Finals win against Connecticut

In 2022, the Stars won the WNBA Finals against Connecticut.

March 23, 2023: Tom Brady purchased minority stake

On March 23, 2023, it was announced that former NFL quarterback Tom Brady had purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Aces.

April 2023: Completion of training facility

In April 2023, the Aces' new 50,000 square foot training facility in Henderson was completed.

2023: Won 2023 WNBA championship

In 2023, the Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA championship, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since 2001 and 2002.

2023: WNBA Finals win against New York

In 2023, the Stars won the WNBA Finals against the New York Liberty.

March 6, 2024: Aces debuted new uniforms and color scheme

On March 6, 2024, the Aces debuted new uniforms and a new silver and black color scheme matching that of Davis's other team the Raiders.

May 17, 2024: LVCVA announced sponsorship for Aces players

On May 17, 2024, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) announced that they would be gifting each player on the 2024 Aces roster a $100,000 sponsorship.