WNBA · Western Conference · Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Las Vegas Aces
Back-to-back WNBA champions in 2022 and 2023, the Las Vegas Aces under coach Becky Hammon and led by A'ja Wilson have established themselves as the league's modern dynasty and the standard against which every other franchise measures itself.
1997–2017
Utah and San Antonio
Two cities, two decades of building
The franchise began as the Utah Starzz in 1997, one of the WNBA's expansion wave teams. After relocating to San Antonio as the Stars in 2003, the team spent over a decade in Texas, making occasional playoff appearances but never winning a championship. The franchise's fortunes would change dramatically with its next move.
Key Facts
- Founded as the Utah Starzz in 1997
- Relocated to San Antonio as the Stars in 2003
- Drafted Becky Hammon, who would later return as coach
- Spent 14 seasons in San Antonio before the next relocation
2018–Present
The Las Vegas Dynasty
A'ja Wilson, Becky Hammon, and back-to-back titles
The move to Las Vegas in 2018 transformed the franchise. The selection of A'ja Wilson with the #1 pick in 2018 gave the Aces a generational cornerstone, and the hiring of Becky Hammon as head coach before the 2022 season unlocked the team's full potential. The Aces won the 2022 WNBA Championship, defeating the Connecticut Sun, then repeated in 2023 by beating the New York Liberty. Wilson's dominance - she won Finals MVP in both title runs - combined with Hammon's tactical brilliance and the contributions of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kelsey Plum made the Aces arguably the greatest team in WNBA history.
Key Facts
- Drafted A'ja Wilson #1 overall in 2018
- Hired Becky Hammon as head coach in 2022
- Won back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023
- A'ja Wilson won Finals MVP in both championship seasons