30 Seasons - Top 5 Moments

One of the original WNBA franchises, the Starzz not only earned the franchise’s first victory, which came in their second game, but the win also featured the league’s first 15/10/5/5 game after Elena Baranova finished with 16 points, 10 caroms, five dimes and five blocked shots. The statistical feat is so rare that over the course of the league’s 29 seasons, it has been accomplished just eight times, three of which were by franchise players. In addition to Baranova, Margo Dydek posted 17 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots on July 1, 2000, the second ever in the history of the league, and the most recent such game was produced by A’ja Wilson, who tallied 26 points, 16 boards, five dimes and five blocks on Aug. 30, 2024. 

In the 11 preceding seasons, the franchise advanced to the playoffs just three times, in 2001, 2002 and 2007. The furthest the Starzz/Stars had advanced was the Western Conference Finals in 2002 and 2007 but got swept both times. A year after Dan Hughes orchestrated a trade for Becky Hammon, the 2008 WNBA All-Star and All-W first team selection led San Antonio to a league-best 24-10 slate, marking the most wins to that point in franchise history. After dispatching Sacramento in the conference semifinals, the Stars shook off their conference finals curse and knocked off Los Angeles for the Western Conference championship and a trip to the first WNBA Finals in franchise history. Despite being swept by Detroit in the championship series, it remains a major milestone for the team.

With the semifinals tied at one win apiece on the Las Vegas Aces home court, the series moved to Seattle where a Storm victory would give the hosts momentum ahead of Game 4 in the best-of-five series. The Aces led the entire first half and through the first 5:47 of the second half. From there, the game remained tight and an A’ja Wilson driving layup with 2.9 seconds on the clock put the Aces up 90-89. Following a timeout, Sue Bird’s dagger 3 with 1.9 remaining put Seattle up by 2. However, the Aces took a timeout to advance the ball and eventual Finals MVP Chelsea Gray inbounded the ball to Jackie Young, who had scored just 6 points to that point, for a buzzer-beating, game-tying layup with :00.2 on the clock. Seattle got the first bucket in overtime, but an and-1 by Kelsey Plum put the Aces in front for good as they outscored the Storm 18-6 in OT for the 110-98 victory to move ahead in the series 2-1. 

The Las Vegas Aces, who previously finished as runners-up in 2008 and 2020, claimed the first championship in franchise history in 2022. The Aces, who finished atop the league standings with a 26-10 record, owned home court advantage throughout the playoffs. After sweeping Phoenix in the best-of-three first round, they dropped their first game to Seattle at home before stringing together three consecutive wins, including an overtime thriller in Game 3, in the WNBA Semifinals. Facing Connecticut in the Finals, the Aces eked out a 67-64 win in Game 1 before earning a 14-point, 85-71 victory in Game 2. Moving to Connecticut for the next two games, the Sun, which topped out the season with a 25-11 mark, powered to a 34-19 lead at the end of Game 3’s first quarter and never again trailed for a 105-76 win. The Aces bounced back, however. Game 4 featured 7 lead changes and 8 ties, but over the final 1:39, the Aces outscored the Sun 8-0 for the win and the first title in franchise history. Chelsea Gray, who averaged 18.3 points and 6.0 assists in the championship series, earned 2022 WNBA Finals MVP honors. 

After an up and down start to season in which the Aces were still fighting for a playoff spot two thirds of the way in, the team closed the season with 16 straight wins and clinched the No. 2 seed heading into postseason play. Las Vegas downed Seattle in the quarterfinals Indiana in the semis. The Aces won the first two WNBA Finals games in ‘The House’ before traveling to Phoenix for the next two contests. The Aces entered the final frame of Game 3 with a 17-point cushion, but their shooting went cold as the Mercury struck first and reeled it back, tying the game with 1:41 to play. After an Aces bucket, Phoenix knotted it up 88-all with 61 seconds to play. Neither team was able to score and with 5 seconds on the clock, Becky Hammon called a timeout to quickly regroup. Her play was simple: get the ball to A’ja Wilson. Chelsea Gray inbounded the ball to Wilson, who took a couple dribbles before connecting on a turnaround jumper with less than a second remaining to put the Aces up 3-0 in the best-of-seven championship series.