2024 Las Vegas Aces season | |
---|---|
Coach | Becky Hammon |
Arena | Michelob Ultra Arena |
Attendance | 11,283 per game |
Results | |
Record | 27–13 (.675) |
Place | 2nd (Western) |
Playoff finish | 4th seed; Lost in Semifinals 1–3 to New York Liberty |
Team Leaders | |
Points | A'ja Wilson – 26.9 ppg |
Rebounds | A'ja Wilson – 11.9 rpg |
Assists | Jackie Young – 5.3 apg |
The 2024 Las Vegas Aces season was the franchise's 27th season in the Women's National Basketball Association and the seventh year the franchise is based in Las Vegas - after relocating from San Antonio and Utah. This was the third season under head coach Becky Hammon. They were the defending WNBA champions, after defeating the New York Liberty in the 2023 WNBA Finals. In 2023, the Aces also finished with the most regular season wins in WNBA history, 34.[1] Additionally, the Aces won back-to-back WNBA titles, and were the first team to do so since 2001–2002. The season tipped off on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at home versus the Phoenix Mercury.[2]
On May 17, 2024, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) announced that they would be gifting each player on the 2024 Aces roster a $100,000 sponsorship.[3] This sponsorship is independent of the Aces organization as per the WNBA's collective bargaining agreement.[3] On May 18, 2024, the WNBA opened an investigation into these sponsorships.[4]
The transgressions didn't have an effect on the start of the season as the Aces won their first two games. They did lose to Phoenix by ten points on May 21 for their first loss. They won their next two games before losing to Atlanta to finish May 4–2. They defeated Dallas to start June, but would lose their next three games. They defeated Phoenix to break the streak, but lost to New York in the next game. Their losing streak would end after that as the Aces won their next four games to finish June 6–4. They extended their winning streak to six games by defeating Indiana and Washington to start July. An overtime loss to Los Angeles would break their winning streak. The Aces built a new streak winning their next four games in a row. They would lose to Chicago to finish July 6–2 and head into the Olympic break with a 16–8 record. The Aces were not as dominant upon returning from the break, losing their first game back to New York. They would defeat Los Angeles before losing two games in a row to Minnesota. Two wins bookended a loss to see the Aces finish August 3–4. With a win over Atlanta on August 30, the Aces clinched their playoff berth. The Aces became dominant in September, winning their first three games of the month. A four point loss to New York on September 8 would be the only mar on their record for the month. The would the remaining five straight games, with the closest being a four point win in Indiana on September 13. The Aces finished the regular season 27–13.
The Aces' 27–13 record saw them finish in fourth place in the overall standings. As the fourth seed in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs, they faced-off against fifth seed Seattle in the First Round. The first two games were held in Las Vegas and the Aces won them both, 78–67 and 86–73. They advanced to the Semifinals where they faced New York in a best-of-five series. The Aces lost the first two games in New York, 77–87 and 84–88. They would win game three in Las Vegas to extend the series, 95–81. The Aces were unable to win game four at home and were eliminated from the playoffs, losing the series one game to three.