The Las Vegas Aces are a professional basketball team competing in the Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association. Originally established as the Utah Starzz in Salt Lake City for the league's inaugural season in 1997, the team relocated to San Antonio, Texas, ahead of the 2003 season and was renamed the San Antonio Silver Stars, later shortened the name to the San Antonio Stars in 2014. In 2018, the franchise moved to Las Vegas and became the Las Vegas Aces.
The team has found significant success, winning both the 2022 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup and the 2022 WNBA Championship. Their dominance continued in 2023, when they secured another WNBA Championship, becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles since 2001-2002. The Aces have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs 14 times since their inception. The team is being led by A'ja Wilson, with Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray playing pivotal roles in their consecutive championship victories.
How many times has the Las Vegas Aces made the playoffs?
As of September 2024, the Las Vegas Aces have reached the WNBA Playoffs in fourteen of their twenty-seven seasons. Out of their fourteen WNBA playoff appearances, the Las Vegas Aces advanced to the WNBA Finals four times and won two WNBA championships back to back in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Las Vegas Aces Playoff Record
As of September 16, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces have played 70 matches in the postseason, and out of 70 games 33 wins and 37 losses.
The Las Vegas Aces struggled in their early years, failing to make the playoffs in their first four seasons. Their playoff run began in 2001 when they reached the Conference Semifinals but were swept by Sacramento, losing 0–2. The following year, in 2002, they returned to the playoffs, defeating Houston 2–1 in the Conference Semifinals. Unfortunately, they fell short in the Conference Finals, losing 0–2 to Los Angeles. This early success came under head coach Candi Harvey. However, the team faced a four-year playoff drought afterward. From 2007 to 2012, they consistently qualified for the playoffs but struggled to advance far.
A major turning point came when Bill Laimbeer took over as head coach in 2018. Although the Aces missed the playoffs in his first season, they rebounded in 2019, reaching the WNBA Conference Finals but losing to the Washington Mystics 1–3. In 2020, the Aces made a deep playoff run, reaching the WNBA Finals, where they were swept by the Seattle Storm, 0–3. In 2022 and 2023, the Aces found their winning formula, capturing back-to-back WNBA championships under the leadership of head coach Becky Hammon and star player A'Ja Wilson.
Las Vegas Aces Conference Finals wins
As of September 16, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces have won the conference final four times.
| Year | Team | Against | Result | Head Coach | Final score | Conference-Best player |
| 2008 | Las Vegas Aces | Los Angeles Sparks | Lost in Final | Dan Hughes | 2-1 | Sophia Young-Malcolm |
| 2020 | Las Vegas Aces | Connecticut Sun | Lost in Final | Bill Laimbeer | 3-2 | A’ja Wilson |
| 2022 | Las Vegas Aces | Seattle Storm | Win in Final | Becky Hammon | 3-1 | A’ja Wilson |
| 2023 | Las Vegas Aces | Dallas Wings | Win in Final | Becky Hammon | 3-0 | A’ja Wilson |
Las Vegas Aces Championships Wins
As of September 16, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces won two WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023.
| Year | Team | Against | Result | Head Coach | Final score | Final MVP |
| 2022 | Las Vegas Aces | Connecticut Sun | Win WNBA final | Becky Hammon | 3-1 | Chelsea Gray |
| 2023 | Las Vegas Aces | New York Liberty | Win WNBA Final | Becky Hammon | 3-1 | A’ja Wilson |
Las Vegas Aces Last Playoff Appearance
As of September 16, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces’s last playoff appearance was in the 2023 season, when they won the WNBA championship. In the 2023 playoffs, the Las Vegas Aces began by facing the Chicago Sky in the first round, easily winning the series 2-0. Both victories were dominant, with final scorecards of 87-59 and 92-70. In the next round, the Aces swept the Dallas Wings 3-0, with A'ja Wilson scoring a total of 77 points across the three games. In the WNBA Finals, the Aces took on the New York Liberty and won the series 3-1.
FAQs on Las Vegas Aces
A. The Las Vegas Aces’s last WNBA final appearance was in the 2023 season.
A.As of the 2024 season, the New York Liberty is the greatest rival team of the Las Vegas Aces.
A. As of September 2024, the Las Vegas Aces won two WNBA championships.
A. As of September 2024, the Las Vegas Aces have won 33 playoff matches in the WNBA.
