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The Las Vegas Aces are an American professional basketball team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league's inaugural 1997 season. The Aces compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Western Conference. They have won the WNBA Championship in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since 2001-2002.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Las Vegas Aces |
| Sport | Basketball |
| League | Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) |
| Conference | Western Conference |
| Home Games Arena | Michelob Ultra Arena, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino |
| Headquarters | Henderson, Nevada |
| 2022 Season Outcome | Defeated Phoenix Mercury in round 1, Seattle Storm in the semifinals, and Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Finals to win the franchise's first championship |
| 2023 Season Outcome | WNBA Champions |
| 2022-2023 | Back-to-back WNBA Champions |
| First Complex Built Solely for a WNBA Team | Completed in April 2023 |
| Highest-Paid Coach in the WNBA | Becky Hammon |
| Minority Stakeholder | Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady |
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What You'll Learn
Las Vegas Aces are a professional basketball team
The Las Vegas Aces are an American professional basketball team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Aces compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Western Conference. The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league's inaugural 1997 season. It then moved to San Antonio, Texas, before the 2003 season and became the San Antonio Silver Stars, later shortened to the San Antonio Stars in 2014. The team relocated to Las Vegas before the 2018 season and was renamed the Las Vegas Aces.
The Aces play their home games at Michelob Ultra Arena in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, and their headquarters are in Henderson, Nevada. The team is owned by Mark and Carol Davis, the current owners of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who purchased a minority stake in the team in 2023. The Aces are one of three WNBA franchises that compete in a market that lacks a current NBA team.
The Aces have enjoyed recent success on the court, winning the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup and back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury in round 1 and the Seattle Storm in the semifinals before defeating the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Finals to win their first franchise championship and the first professional sports championship for Las Vegas. The following year, the Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the finals to become the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-2002.
The Aces have been home to many high-quality players, including all-star point guard and current head coach Becky Hammon, solid power forward Sophia Young, former first-overall draft pick Ann Wauters, seven-foot-two-inch center Margo Dydek, two-time Sixth Woman of the Year Dearica Hamby, and three-time league MVP A'ja Wilson. Hammon made history as the first full-time female assistant coach in NBA history and became the highest-paid coach in the WNBA when she was hired by the Aces in 2021.
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They compete in the WNBA's Western Conference
The Las Vegas Aces are an American professional basketball team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. They compete in the WNBA's Western Conference. The WNBA, or Women's National Basketball Association, is a professional basketball league in the United States. The Aces play their home games at Michelob Ultra Arena in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and are headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz before the league's inaugural 1997 season.
The Aces have had a successful few years, winning the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Championship. They also won the 2023 WNBA Championship, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-2002. The Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the 2022 season, followed by the Seattle Storm in the semifinals, and then the Connecticut Sun in the finals, claiming their first franchise championship and the first professional sports championship for Las Vegas.
The Aces' success has attracted notable investors, including former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who purchased a minority stake in the team in 2023. Additionally, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) announced a $100,000 sponsorship for each player on the 2024 roster, further boosting the team's profile and resources.
The Aces have also invested in their facilities, completing a state-of-the-art 50,000-square-foot training complex in April 2023. This facility is the first of its kind, built exclusively for a WNBA team, and includes a practice facility, offices, training and weight rooms, hydrotherapy and physical therapy areas, locker rooms, a lecture hall, and player lounges.
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They won the 2022 and 2023 WNBA Championships
The Las Vegas Aces are an American professional basketball team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. They compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Western Conference. The Aces have had a successful few years, winning the 2022 and 2023 WNBA Championships.
In the 2022 season, the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury in round 1 and the Seattle Storm in the semifinals. They then went on to beat the Connecticut Sun in the 2022 WNBA Finals, winning the franchise its first championship and the first professional sports championship for Las Vegas.
The following year, the Aces continued their success, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-2002. They beat the New York Liberty 70-69 in Game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals, securing their place as one of the greatest teams in WNBA history. This win marked the first time in 21 years that a team had won consecutive championships.
The Aces' success in the 2022 and 2023 seasons has solidified their place in the WNBA's history and has brought attention to the team and the league. With a talented roster and dedicated coaching staff, the Aces are expected to continue their winning streak and compete for more championships in the future.
The team's success has also brought attention to the sport of women's basketball and has helped to grow the popularity of the WNBA. The Aces' back-to-back championships have served as a testament to the skill and dedication of the players and staff, inspiring and encouraging fans and athletes alike.
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The team was founded in Utah in 1997
The Las Vegas Aces, previously known as the Utah Starzz, were founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1997. The team was one of the original eight franchises of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) during its inaugural 1997 season. The WNBA was announced on April 24, 1996, when the NBA Board of Governors approved the creation of a professional women's basketball league.
The Utah Starzz was the team's name until they moved to San Antonio, Texas, before the 2003 season. The team name changed to the San Antonio Silver Stars, later shortened to the San Antonio Stars in 2014. The team's name and location change were due to Spurs Sports & Entertainment's decision to put the team up for sale after the 2017 season. The NBA and WNBA approved the sale of the Stars to MGM Resorts on October 17, 2017, with the intention of relocating the team to Las Vegas.
On December 11, 2017, the team name was officially changed to the Las Vegas Aces. The Aces played their home games at the Michelob Ultra Arena in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, with a capacity of 12,000 for a sellout crowd. The team is now headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.
The Aces have had a successful history, winning the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Championship. They also won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first team to do so since 2001-2002.
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They are the first team to win back-to-back championships since 2001-2002
The Las Vegas Aces are a professional basketball team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. They compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the Western Conference. The Aces were founded in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Utah Starzz in 1997. The team then moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 2003, becoming the San Antonio Silver Stars, later shortened to the San Antonio Stars in 2014.
In 2017, the team was sold to MGM Resorts, with the intention of relocating to Las Vegas and playing at the Michelob Ultra Arena, starting in the 2018 season. On December 11, 2017, the team name was officially changed to the Las Vegas Aces. In 2021, the Aces were purchased by Mark Davis and his mother, Carol, owners of the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Aces have experienced recent success, winning the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup and WNBA Championship. They continued their winning streak by claiming the 2023 WNBA Championship, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-2002. This success has brought increased attention and investment to the team, with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady purchasing a minority stake in the Aces in 2023.
The Aces' success can be attributed to a strong team dynamic and talented players, such as South Carolina's A'ja Wilson, the first pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. The team's practice facility, completed in April 2023, also played a significant role in their championship wins. The facility, specifically designed for the Aces, offers a range of amenities, including a training room, weight room, hydrotherapy space, and physical therapy area, providing the team with the necessary resources for training and recovery.
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Frequently asked questions
The Las Vegas Aces are ranked first in the WNBA, having won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
The Aces won their first WNBA championship in 2022.
The Aces defeated the Connecticut Sun in the 2022 WNBA Finals.
The Aces picked South Carolina's A'ja Wilson.
Becky Hammon is the head coach of the Aces.
