The Las Vegas Aces lineup. (Photos Getty Images, Collage Gabe Conte/GQ Sports)
By Max Ferguson, Staff Writer
The Las Vegas Aces are building a dynasty, as they took home their second WNBA championship. They did it in a dominant 3-1 series against the New York Liberty. The team, formerly known as the Utah Starzz from 1997-2003 and then San Antonio Stars from 2003-2018, relocated to Las Vegas as the strip developed. As Las Vegas’ population of year-long residents increased, investors were eager to bring in professional sports teams like the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Aces to entertain people who were not just tourists.
The Aces put a great deal of effort into making key signings to guarantee their success. Their rise to the top, though meteoric, was built on a foundation of hard work, strategic drafting, and key trades. The signing of Head Coach Bill Laimbeer, a legend in both the NBA and WNBA circles, was crucial in this process. Laimbeer was an instrumental part of the Detroit Pistons during their “Bad Boys” era, and helped them win back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990.
As a WNBA coach, Laimbeer led the Detroit Shock to three WNBA championships in 2003, 2006, and 2008. Laimbeer was awarded the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2003, a testament to his ability to effectively lead and inspire his team. He is particularly noted for turning around the fortunes of the Detroit Shock. When he took over in 2002, the team had the worst record in the league. In just a year, under his leadership, they won the WNBA championship.
The relocation investment capital brought in from the relocation from San Antonio to Las Vegas gave the Aces a working budget to sign him in 2018. With him, the Aces also made some key signings so that Laimbeer would have some star power to coach.
A’ja Wilson, the star center for the Aces, was instrumental in the team’s success. Drafted as the first overall pick in 2018, Wilson’s impact was felt from day one. Her versatility, scoring ability and leadership on and off the court were pivotal to the Aces’ back-to-back championships. The fact that she came in at the same time as coach Laimbeer was not a coincidence. Bringing in the pair at the same time was the first step in a coordinated effort to make the Aces a dominant force in the WNBA.
Kelsey Plum, who played pivotal roles throughout their championship runs, was brought into the organization at the same time as A’ja Wilson. After she played for four years at the University of Washington, Plum was the Stars’ first-round pick in 2017. Since then, she has won MVP of the WNBA all-star game, been nominated to the all-WNBA first team and won a gold medal in 3v3 basketball in the 2020 Olympics.
The two first-rounders are backed up by a supporting cast of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kiah Stokes. Gray and Young both suffered injuries during game 3 of the WNBA finals but their injuries should heal in time for them to compete come the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
With two consecutive titles under their belt, the Las Vegas Aces have firmly established their legacy in the WNBA history books. The big question now is, can they make it a three-peat? Given their track record, depth of talent and unparalleled work ethic, it wouldn’t be wise to bet against them.
