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History of the San Antonio Silver Stars

The San Antonio Silver Stars were a Women's National Basketball Association franchise that played in San Antonio, Texas, from 2003 through 2013 before shortening their name to the San Antonio Stars for the 2014 through 2017 seasons. The franchise's San Antonio history was part of a longer lineage that began with the Utah Starzz in 1997 and continues today as the Las Vegas Aces.

The Silver Stars experienced their greatest success during the late 2000s behind stars such as Becky Hammon, Sophia Young, Vickie Johnson and Ruth Riley. San Antonio reached the playoffs six consecutive times from 2007 through 2012 and produced the best season in franchise history to that point in 2008, finishing 24-10 and advancing to the WNBA Finals.

Although San Antonio never won a championship, the Silver Stars developed into one of the Western Conference's most consistent teams during their peak. The franchise also played a major role in the career of Becky Hammon, who later returned to the organization after its move to Las Vegas and coached the Aces to WNBA championships.

From the Utah Starzz to San Antonio

The franchise began as the Utah Starzz, one of the WNBA's original eight teams in 1997.

Utah played six seasons in Salt Lake City and featured notable players such as Natalie Williams, Margo Dydek and Marie Ferdinand.

The Starzz reached the playoffs in 2001 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.

Despite that progress, the franchise's future in Utah became uncertain when ownership changes affected several WNBA organizations.

Spurs Sports & Entertainment purchased the franchise in December 2002 and relocated it to San Antonio for the 2003 season.

The San Antonio Silver Stars Are Born

The relocated team was renamed the San Antonio Silver Stars.

The name connected the franchise to the silver-and-black identity of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs while maintaining a link to the Starzz name used in Utah.

The Silver Stars played in the Western Conference and began their San Antonio history at the SBC Center, which was later renamed the AT&T Center.

The move placed the franchise inside one of the strongest basketball organizations in professional sports.

The First San Antonio Season

The Silver Stars began play in San Antonio in 2003.

The transition was difficult.

The franchise had inherited portions of the Utah roster, but it had not yet developed a new identity around the Texas market.

San Antonio struggled during its first seasons and remained near the bottom of the Western Conference.

The organization gradually rebuilt through the draft, trades and veteran acquisitions.

Margo Dydek

Margo Dydek was one of the most recognizable players who made the move from Utah to San Antonio.

The 7-foot-2 center had originally been selected first overall by the Utah Starzz in the 1998 WNBA Draft.

Dydek was one of the greatest shot blockers in league history and gave San Antonio an imposing interior defender during the franchise's early years.

Her presence provided continuity between the Utah and San Antonio eras.

Marie Ferdinand-Harris

Marie Ferdinand-Harris was another important player during the early Silver Stars years.

She had developed into a productive scorer with Utah and continued contributing after the relocation.

Her athleticism and perimeter scoring made her one of the more reliable offensive players on the early San Antonio rosters.

Dan Hughes

One of the most important figures in Silver Stars history was Dan Hughes.

Hughes became head coach and helped construct the competitive identity that would eventually turn San Antonio into a Western Conference contender.

His teams emphasized defense, execution and veteran leadership.

Hughes would become the winningest coach of the franchise's San Antonio era.

Sophia Young

The Silver Stars made one of the most important draft selections in franchise history in 2006.

San Antonio selected Sophia Young with the fourth overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

Young had starred at Baylor and immediately became one of San Antonio's foundational players.

Her athleticism, mid-range scoring and rebounding gave the Silver Stars a versatile forward capable of contributing at both ends of the court.

Young eventually became a multiple-time WNBA All-Star and spent her entire professional WNBA career with the franchise.

Vickie Johnson

Veteran guard Vickie Johnson became another important member of the developing Silver Stars.

Johnson brought extensive playoff experience from her years with the New York Liberty.

She provided leadership, defense and steady perimeter play during San Antonio's rise.

Her professionalism helped establish the culture that would define the team's best seasons.

Becky Hammon Arrives

The move that changed the direction of the franchise came before the 2007 season.

San Antonio acquired Becky Hammon from the New York Liberty.

Hammon had entered the WNBA as an undrafted player but developed into an All-Star guard in New York.

In San Antonio, she was given a larger offensive role and quickly became the centerpiece of the Silver Stars.

Her shooting, ball handling and passing transformed the team's offense.

The 2007 Breakthrough

The combination of Hammon, Young, Johnson and a developing supporting cast helped the Silver Stars make a major leap in 2007.

San Antonio returned to the playoffs and established itself as one of the stronger teams in the Western Conference.

The season began a run of six consecutive playoff appearances.

The franchise had finally moved beyond its difficult rebuilding years.

Hammon Becomes a Star in San Antonio

Hammon flourished after joining the Silver Stars.

She became one of the WNBA's premier scoring point guards and established herself as a dangerous three-point shooter and playmaker.

Her ability to create shots late in games gave San Antonio an offensive weapon it had lacked during its early seasons.

Hammon quickly became the face of the franchise.

Ruth Riley

Veteran center Ruth Riley joined San Antonio after already building an impressive championship résumé.

Riley had won championships with the Detroit Shock and had been named Finals MVP in 2003.

Her experience, interior defense and basketball intelligence gave the Silver Stars another important veteran presence.

Ann Wauters

Belgian center Ann Wauters also played a major role during San Antonio's peak.

Wauters brought size, shooting ability and international experience to the frontcourt.

Her versatility gave the Silver Stars another scoring option alongside Young and Hammon.

The 2008 Regular Season

The 2008 Silver Stars produced the greatest season of the franchise's San Antonio era.

San Antonio finished 24-10, the best record in the Western Conference and the best overall regular-season record in the WNBA.

Hammon led the offense, Young continued developing into an elite forward and veterans such as Johnson, Riley and Wauters gave the roster significant depth.

San Antonio entered the playoffs as a championship favorite.

The 2008 Western Conference Semifinals

The Silver Stars faced the Sacramento Monarchs in the opening round.

Sacramento had won the WNBA championship only three years earlier and remained a dangerous postseason opponent.

San Antonio survived the series and advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

The 2008 Western Conference Finals

The Silver Stars faced the Los Angeles Sparks for a place in the WNBA Finals.

Los Angeles featured stars such as Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker.

The series went three games.

After Los Angeles won the opening game, San Antonio responded and forced a deciding Game 3.

The Silver Stars won the series 2-1 and advanced to the WNBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

The 2008 WNBA Finals

San Antonio faced the Detroit Shock in the championship series.

Detroit entered the Finals with championship experience and a deep roster led by Deanna Nolan, Katie Smith and Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

The Shock took Game 1 in San Antonio, 77-69.

Detroit also won Game 2, 69-61, despite 24 points from Becky Hammon.

The series moved to Michigan for Game 3, where Detroit defeated San Antonio 76-60 and completed the sweep.

Although the Finals ended in disappointment, San Antonio's 2008 run remains the greatest team achievement of the Silver Stars era.

2008 WNBA Finals

Becky Hammon's 2008 Playoff Run

Hammon became the centerpiece of San Antonio's Finals run.

She led all players in the 2008 postseason with 163 points and 41 assists.

Although the Silver Stars did not win the championship, Hammon's performances established her as one of the WNBA's premier postseason guards.

The Silver Stars Remain a Playoff Team

San Antonio did not return to the Finals after 2008, but the franchise remained competitive.

The Silver Stars continued qualifying for the playoffs behind Hammon, Young and their veteran supporting cast.

From 2007 through 2012, San Antonio reached the postseason six consecutive times.

The consistency represented the most successful sustained period in franchise history before the eventual Las Vegas era.

Jayne Appel

San Antonio added center Jayne Appel through the 2010 WNBA Draft.

Appel developed into a dependable interior defender and rebounder.

She later became an important member of the franchise's frontcourt during the final years of its playoff run.

Danielle Adams

Danielle Adams became another notable player during the early 2010s.

Adams joined San Antonio after starring at Texas A&M and quickly demonstrated her ability to score both inside and from the perimeter.

She provided valuable offense during the latter part of the Silver Stars era.

Dan Hughes Steps Away

Hughes eventually stepped away from coaching before later returning to the bench.

His relationship with the franchise extended across much of the San Antonio era, and his coaching helped establish the team's most successful identity.

The organization continued relying on many of the same veteran players as it attempted to remain competitive.

Hammon's Injury

The 2013 season became difficult for the Silver Stars when Hammon suffered a major knee injury.

She missed much of the season, depriving San Antonio of its longtime offensive leader.

The team struggled without her and missed the playoffs.

The injury effectively marked the end of the Silver Stars' strongest competitive period.

The End of the Silver Stars Name

Following the 2013 season, the franchise changed its name.

The team dropped "Silver" and became simply the San Antonio Stars beginning in 2014.

The organization retained its silver-and-black identity but adopted a simplified name and updated branding.

The Silver Stars name therefore officially covered the franchise's first 11 seasons in San Antonio, from 2003 through 2013.

The San Antonio Stars Era

The rebranded Stars entered a rebuilding period.

Hammon returned from her injury in 2014, but the veteran guard was nearing the end of her playing career.

Young remained an important player, while the organization attempted to develop a younger core.

The Stars reached the playoffs in 2014 but were unable to create another deep postseason run.

Becky Hammon Retires

Hammon retired following the 2014 season.

Her departure ended one of the most important playing careers in franchise history.

She had transformed San Antonio into a contender and helped lead the team to its only WNBA Finals appearance.

Her impact on the franchise would later grow even larger when she returned as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

Sophia Young's Final Seasons

Young continued playing for San Antonio after Hammon's retirement.

She remained one of the franchise's most productive players and eventually completed her entire WNBA career with the organization.

Young became one of the strongest symbols of continuity during the San Antonio years.

Kayla McBride

The Stars selected Kayla McBride with the third overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

McBride immediately became one of San Antonio's most important young players.

Her shooting and scoring ability gave the franchise another perimeter star and helped provide a bridge between the Hammon era and the team's final years in Texas.

Moriah Jefferson

San Antonio selected Moriah Jefferson with the second overall pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft.

The former Connecticut point guard brought speed, defense and playmaking.

Jefferson became part of the young core the organization hoped could lead the next successful era.

Kelsey Plum

The franchise held the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft.

San Antonio selected Kelsey Plum from Washington.

Plum had become the NCAA Division I women's career scoring leader and entered the WNBA with significant expectations.

Her rookie season became the final year of the franchise's history in San Antonio.

The Final San Antonio Season

The 2017 Stars remained near the bottom of the league standings.

The team had accumulated several high draft picks but had not yet developed into a contender.

Off the court, questions surrounding attendance and the long-term business future of the franchise increased.

Following the season, the team was sold and relocated.

The Move to Las Vegas

After the 2017 season, the franchise was purchased by MGM Resorts International and moved to Las Vegas.

The organization was renamed the Las Vegas Aces beginning with the 2018 season.

The move ended 15 seasons of WNBA basketball in San Antonio.

The relocation eventually transformed the fortunes of the franchise.

From San Antonio Draft Picks to Las Vegas Champions

Several players acquired during San Antonio's final rebuilding period became important to the future Las Vegas Aces.

Kelsey Plum, drafted first overall by San Antonio in 2017, moved with the franchise to Las Vegas.

The Aces later selected A'ja Wilson first overall in 2018 and Jackie Young first overall in 2019.

That collection of elite young talent eventually helped transform the relocated franchise into a WNBA champion.

Becky Hammon Returns to the Franchise

One of the most remarkable developments in franchise history occurred before the 2022 season.

Becky Hammon returned to the organization as head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.

Years after leading the Silver Stars to the 2008 Finals as a player, Hammon guided the Aces to championships in 2022 and 2023.

Her career created a direct connection between the greatest San Antonio team and the franchise's championship era in Las Vegas.

San Antonio Silver Stars Playoff Era

WNBA Finals History

Notable San Antonio Silver Stars Players

• Becky Hammon
• Sophia Young
• Vickie Johnson
• Ruth Riley
• Ann Wauters
• Margo Dydek
• Marie Ferdinand-Harris
• Jayne Appel
• Danielle Adams
• Helen Darling

Notable San Antonio Stars Players

• Becky Hammon
• Sophia Young-Malcolm
• Kayla McBride
• Danielle Robinson
• Jayne Appel-Marinelli
• Moriah Jefferson
• Kelsey Plum

San Antonio Head Coaches

• Candi Harvey
• Shell Dailey
• Dan Hughes
• Sandy Brondello
• Vickie Johnson

Home Arena

Franchise Timeline

The Legacy of Becky Hammon

No player is more closely associated with the successful years of the San Antonio Silver Stars than Becky Hammon.

Her arrival in 2007 immediately transformed the team.

San Antonio went from a rebuilding franchise to a perennial playoff participant and reached the WNBA Finals in her second season.

Hammon's scoring, passing and leadership made her the central figure in the greatest period of Silver Stars basketball.

Her later success as coach of the Las Vegas Aces gave her an even more unusual place in franchise history.

The Legacy of Sophia Young

Sophia Young became one of the most consistent players in San Antonio basketball history.

Drafted in 2006, she developed alongside Hammon and helped form the core of the 2008 Finals team.

Young spent her entire WNBA career with the franchise and became one of its leaders in scoring and rebounding.

Her longevity made her an important link between the competitive Silver Stars teams and the later rebuilding years.

The Legacy of Dan Hughes

Dan Hughes helped transform San Antonio into a respected WNBA organization.

His teams emphasized preparation, defense and professionalism.

The six-year playoff streak from 2007 through 2012 represented the most consistent success the franchise experienced before moving to Las Vegas.

The 2008 Team

The 2008 Silver Stars remain the defining team of San Antonio's WNBA history.

The group finished 24-10, earned the best record in the Western Conference and advanced through Sacramento and Los Angeles to reach the WNBA Finals.

Hammon was one of the league's premier guards, Young had developed into an All-Star-level forward and the roster included veteran experience throughout the rotation.

Detroit's sweep in the Finals prevented San Antonio from winning a championship, but the season demonstrated how far the franchise had progressed since arriving from Utah only five years earlier.

Why San Antonio Never Won a Championship

San Antonio's championship window was relatively short.

The Silver Stars peaked during a Western Conference era that included powerful teams such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle and Minnesota.

Hammon and Young gave the team star talent, but injuries and roster turnover gradually reduced the depth that had made the 2008 team so effective.

By the time the original core declined, the franchise was forced into another rebuild.

The End of WNBA Basketball in San Antonio

The departure after the 2017 season ended a 15-year WNBA run in San Antonio.

The franchise never won a title in Texas, but it reached the Finals, produced multiple All-Stars and created one of the most stable playoff teams of the late 2000s.

Its history also became increasingly significant after the move to Las Vegas.

Players drafted in San Antonio helped form the foundation of the future Aces, while Hammon returned to lead the organization from the sidelines.

Legacy of the San Antonio Silver Stars

The San Antonio Silver Stars occupy an important middle chapter in the history of one of the WNBA's original franchises.

The organization arrived from Utah in 2003 and initially struggled to establish itself. Through patient roster building, the drafting of Sophia Young and the acquisition of Becky Hammon, San Antonio eventually created one of the Western Conference's strongest teams.

The 2008 season became the high point. The Silver Stars won 24 games, finished with the league's best regular-season record and reached the WNBA Finals before losing to the Detroit Shock.

Although San Antonio never returned to the Finals, the team reached the playoffs six consecutive seasons and established a competitive identity built around Hammon, Young and a strong veteran supporting cast.

The later Stars era was less successful, but it produced important players such as Kayla McBride, Moriah Jefferson and Kelsey Plum.

Those final draft selections helped lay the groundwork for what the franchise would eventually become in Las Vegas.

The San Antonio Silver Stars never won a WNBA championship, but their impact extends beyond their own record. Their best player later returned as the championship coach of the Las Vegas Aces, and one of their final No. 1 draft picks became part of the Aces' championship core.

From the 2008 Finals run to Becky Hammon's lasting connection with the franchise, the Silver Stars remain an important part of both San Antonio sports history and the larger story of the WNBA.