#5 Becoming the Las Vegas Aces
Every great team needs an origin story, and the Las Vegas Aces are no different. Fortunately for the organization, they might actually have one of the most interesting stories in the WNBA.
The Aces started out as the Utah Stars in 1997 before moving to San Antonio to become the Silver stars in 2003. They would stay in San Antonio until 2017 but dropped the word silver from their name in 2013. Finally, the team relocated to Las Vegas Nevada, and rebranded as the Las Vegas Aces.
#4 Their first win
While it might have taken four games before the Aces finally notched their first victory of the Washington Mystics in 2018, it was only a taste of what this team was capable of. In fact, Dearica Hamby and A’ja Wilson would team up to score 40 points that night and were backed up by Kayla McBride, Nia Coffey, and Kelsey Bone, who all contributed ten points in the first victory. If nothing else, this day proved that the Aces would be a contender one day; they just needed to gel as a team first.
#3 Making the playoffs in their second season
While the Las Vegas Aces started the 2019 season with a shakey 2-3 record, they quickly recovered to finish their first ten games with a record of 6-4. This was the organization’s best start to a season since becoming the Aces and really started to create a playoff buzz around the team. They would then go 7-3 in their next ten games, only furthering the conversation about them being a playoff-worthy team. Fortunately for the Aces, they managed to finish the season with a record of 21-13, which guaranteed them their first playoff appearance as an organization.
And then it got better! The Aces actually won their first playoff series by eliminating the Chicago Sky in the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Aces, their victories were short-lived as they would be unceremoniously knocked out of the playoffs by the Washington Mystics, who beat them in a five-game series 3-1. In the end, it was a great showing for the Las Vegas Aces, but coming up short had to leave a sour taste in their mouths.
#2 Making it to the WNBA Finals in 2020
It’s no secret that this is a bit of a sore spot for fans of the Las Vegas Aces, but it is an important part of their overall history. Not only is that evident by how well the team performed all season, but also by how they somehow managed to make it to the Finals with a team missing several players. Keep in mind that Liz Cambage took the year off due to Covid-19 concerns and Kelsey Plum was out with a foot injury, leaving the team without two of their most critical players.
Despite this fact, the team was able to go on an 8-2 run in their first ten games of the season and even had a winning streak of six games twice in that year. Things only got more exciting though when the team managed to beat the Connecticut Suns in the semi-finals and made it to the championship game for the first time in their history. Of course, things would ultimately come to a screeching halt when the Seattle Storm swept the Aces in three games, but it just seemed to make fans even more sure that a championship was on the horizon.
#1 Mark Davis buying the team
Believe it or not, Mark Davis buying the Las Vegas Aces in 2020 could be the best thing to ever happen to the organization. Davis brings star power to the team. In fact, between signing Liz Cambage to a contract extension, and picking up Riquna Williams and Chelsea Gray in free agency, this is going to be a very interesting season to watch.
It’s amazing what doors money and star power will open up for you and it’s so satisfying to see someone invest so much into a good team. This decision may be what eventually leads the Aces to a championship.
