History of Las Vegas Aces in Timeline
The Las Vegas Aces are a professional women's basketball team competing in the WNBA's Western Conference. They play their home games at Michelob Ultra Arena in Paradise, Nevada, and are headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. The Aces have been a dominant force in the league, winning both the Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Championship in 2022. They continued their success by winning the 2023 WNBA Championship, becoming the first team to win consecutive championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-2002.
1997: Utah Starzz Hold the Worst Record in the WNBA
In their inaugural 1997 season, the Utah Starzz struggled and ended the season with the worst record in the WNBA.
1997: Utah Starzz Join the WNBA
The Utah Starzz were founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, and joined the WNBA as one of the eight original teams in the league's inaugural 1997 season.
1998: Utah Starzz Draft Margo Dydek, Tallest Player in WNBA History
The Utah Starzz held the first overall pick in the 1998 WNBA draft and selected Margo Dydek, a 7'2" center who became the tallest player in WNBA history.
1999: Utah Starzz Continue to Struggle
The Utah Starzz continued to face challenges in the 1999 season, finishing near the bottom of the league standings.
2000: Utah Starzz Achieve Their First Winning Record
After several challenging seasons, the Utah Starzz finally achieved a winning record in 2000, marking a positive step for the franchise.
2001: Utah Starzz Make Their First Playoff Appearance
In 2001, the Utah Starzz made their first appearance in the WNBA Playoffs, but they were swept in the first round by the Sacramento Monarchs.
2001: Los Angeles Sparks Win WNBA Championship
The Los Angeles Sparks won the WNBA Championship in 2001.
2002: Utah Starzz Sold and Relocated to San Antonio
Following the NBA's divestiture of its WNBA franchises at the end of the 2002 season, the Utah Starzz were sold to Peter Holt, the owner of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, and relocated to San Antonio. This move marked the end of the Utah Starzz era and the beginning of the San Antonio Silver Stars.
2002: Los Angeles Sparks Achieve Back-to-Back WNBA Championships
In 2002, the Los Angeles Sparks won their second consecutive WNBA Championship, marking a significant achievement in the league's history.
2002: Utah Starzz Reach the Western Conference Finals
The Utah Starzz advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2002, marking their furthest playoff run in franchise history. They were ultimately swept by the Los Angeles Sparks, who went on to win the championship.
2003: San Antonio Silver Stars Struggle to Make the Playoffs
After relocating to San Antonio in 2003, the San Antonio Silver Stars experienced a period of difficulty and were unable to make the playoffs for their first four seasons in the new city.
2003: Relocation to San Antonio and Rebranding as the San Antonio Silver Stars
Before the 2003 WNBA season, the Utah Starzz relocated to San Antonio, Texas, and rebranded as the San Antonio Silver Stars. This move marked a significant change for the franchise.
2006: San Antonio Silver Stars Miss the Playoffs for the Fourth Consecutive Season
The San Antonio Silver Stars' struggles continued in 2006 as they missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season since relocating to San Antonio.
August 4, 2007: San Antonio Silver Stars Clinch Their First Playoff Berth in San Antonio
On August 4, 2007, the San Antonio Silver Stars secured their first playoff berth since relocating to San Antonio in 2003, marking a significant achievement for the franchise.
September 1, 2007: San Antonio Silver Stars' Season Ends in the Western Conference Finals
The San Antonio Silver Stars' 2007 season came to an end on September 1, 2007, after losing Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals to the Phoenix Mercury.
2008: San Antonio Silver Stars Secure the Best Record in the Western Conference
In 2008, the San Antonio Silver Stars demonstrated their strength by securing the best record in the Western Conference, solidifying their position as a top contender.
2008: San Antonio Silver Stars Reach the WNBA Finals
The San Antonio Silver Stars reached the WNBA Finals for the first time in 2008, but they lost to the Detroit Shock.
2010: San Antonio Silver Stars Finish with a Losing Record
The San Antonio Silver Stars had a less successful season in 2010, finishing with a 14-20 record, which was considered unimpressive.
2012: San Antonio Silver Stars Lose in the First Round of the Playoffs
In the 2012 WNBA Playoffs, the San Antonio Silver Stars faced disappointment as they were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Sparks.
2013: San Antonio Silver Stars Miss the Playoffs
The San Antonio Silver Stars experienced a setback in 2013 as they failed to qualify for the playoffs.
2014: Name Change to San Antonio Stars
In 2014, the San Antonio Silver Stars shortened their name to the San Antonio Stars, simplifying their branding.
2014: San Antonio Stars Lose in the First Round of the Playoffs
In the 2014 WNBA Playoffs, the San Antonio Stars, having shortened their name, were once again eliminated in the first round, this time by the Minnesota Lynx.
October 17, 2017: Sale of the Stars to MGM Resorts
On October 17, 2017, the NBA and WNBA approved the sale of the San Antonio Stars to MGM Resorts. The team was slated to relocate to Las Vegas.
December 11, 2017: Las Vegas Aces Announced
On December 11, 2017, at a press conference in Las Vegas, the team name was officially announced as the Las Vegas Aces.
2018: The Aces' First Season and Draft Pick
In 2018, The Las Vegas Aces participated in their first WNBA draft, securing the first pick and selecting A'ja Wilson from the University of South Carolina.
2018: Relocation to Las Vegas and Rebranding as the Las Vegas Aces
Prior to the 2018 WNBA season, the San Antonio Stars relocated to Las Vegas and rebranded as the Las Vegas Aces, marking a new chapter for the franchise.
January 14, 2021: Mark Davis Agrees to Purchase the Aces
On January 14, 2021, Mark Davis, the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, reached an agreement to purchase the Las Vegas Aces from MGM Resorts.
February 12, 2021: League Approval of the Aces Purchase
On February 12, 2021, the WNBA officially approved Mark Davis's purchase of the Las Vegas Aces.
May 2021: Nikki Fargas Hired as Team President
In May 2021, shortly after acquiring the team, Mark Davis appointed Nikki Fargas, the former head coach of the LSU Lady Tigers basketball team, as the president of the Las Vegas Aces.
December 31, 2021: Becky Hammon Becomes the Aces Head Coach
On December 31, 2021, Becky Hammon was hired as the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces. The deal made her the highest-paid coach in the WNBA.
2022: The Aces' Championship Victory
In 2022, The Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun, winning the franchise's first WNBA championship and securing the first professional sports championship for Las Vegas.
2022: Las Vegas Aces Win Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Championship
In 2022, the Las Vegas Aces achieved a significant milestone by winning both the WNBA Commissioner's Cup and the WNBA Championship.
2022: Las Vegas Aces Win Their First WNBA Championship
The Las Vegas Aces achieved a historic victory in 2022 by winning their first WNBA Championship, defeating the Connecticut Sun in the Finals.
2023: Las Vegas Aces Secure Back-to-Back WNBA Championships
The Las Vegas Aces continued their dominance in 2023 by winning their second consecutive WNBA Championship, this time against the New York Liberty, solidifying their position as a WNBA powerhouse.
March 6, 2024: The Aces Debut New Uniforms and Color Scheme
On March 6, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces unveiled new uniforms and a new color scheme featuring silver and black, aligning with the colors of Mark Davis's other team, the Las Vegas Raiders.
May 17, 2024: Las Vegas Offers Sponsorship to Aces Players
On May 17, 2024, the city of Las Vegas announced a $100,000 sponsorship for each player on the Las Vegas Aces' 2024 roster. The condition of the sponsorship was for the players to continue representing Las Vegas and strive for a championship three-peat.
