The Las Vegas Aces are rolling into September as the hottest team in the WNBA. Their 81-75 win over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday pushed their win streak to 12, tying the franchise record set in 2012 when the team was still the San Antonio Silver Stars.
A’ja Wilson once again led the charge with 34 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, marking her 11th 30-point performance of the season.
“I try to make my workouts and my practices very gamelike, so it’s familiar,” Wilson said. “I can figure out how to get to my spots and be productive for my team. That comes from understanding who I am and where I want to go.”
Jackie Young added her second triple-double of the year, while Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray hit timely shots to hold off Atlanta’s rally. Wilson also tied her season high with two 3-pointers.
“Don’t call me Curry,” Wilson joked.
It has been a complete turnaround for coach Becky Hammon’s group. Hovering around .500 in July, the Aces are now 15-3 since the All-Star break and have moved into second place in the standings at 26-14.
“This is our eighth game in 15 days. I was very concerned with our legs coming into this game,” Hammon said. “When you talk about gears and that ability to kick it up an extra notch, we really have been able to do that on the defensive end. And it’s winning us games. Just really one of our quality team wins tonight: gut check, resiliency, toughness.”
Wilson is at the center of it all, averaging 23.4 points and 10.1 rebounds while anchoring one of the league’s most suffocating defenses. With four games left, including a Sept. 4 matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas is playing its best basketball at the right time.
The Aces are one of a select few teams in WNBA history to win at least 12 straight regular-season games within the same season.
Here is a look at the other teams that reached that mark — and how their seasons ended.
Los Angeles Sparks (2001) — 18 Games
The Sparks still hold the longest single-season winning streak in WNBA history with 18 straight victories. Lisa Leslie was at the peak of her career, winning both league MVP and Finals MVP, while Tamecka Dixon, Mwadi Mabika and DeLisha Milton-Jones gave Los Angeles balance across the floor.
The Sparks finished 28-4, the best record in the league, and swept the Charlotte Sting in the Finals to capture the first championship in franchise history. It was the beginning of a back-to-back title run and cemented Leslie’s place as one of the game’s defining stars.
Phoenix Mercury (2014) — 16 Games
The 2014 Mercury remain one of the most dominant teams the league has ever seen. Diana Taurasi directed the offense with her scoring and playmaking, Brittney Griner emerged as Defensive Player of the Year in her second season, and Candice Dupree provided steady production inside. Phoenix’s 16-game streak fueled a 29-5 regular season, which at the time set the WNBA record for wins.
In the playoffs, Phoenix eliminated the Sparks and Lynx before defeating the Chicago Sky in the Finals. The Mercury dropped only one postseason game all year, completing one of the great campaigns in league history.
Houston Comets (1998) — 15 Games
The Houston Comets defined the early years of the WNBA with a dynasty powered by Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson. In 1998, they ripped off 15 straight wins as part of a 27-3 season, the best in the league.
Cooper won both the regular-season MVP and Finals MVP, further establishing herself as one of the league’s first true superstars. The Comets went on to win their second straight championship, sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals. It was the peak of a dynasty that would go on to claim four titles in a row.
Minnesota Lynx (2016) — 13 Games
The 2016 Lynx were loaded with talent: Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Rebekkah Brunson made up a starting five that rivaled any in league history. Their 13-game streak pushed them to a 28-6 record, the best in the WNBA.
The Lynx returned to the Finals for the fifth time in six years, setting up a showdown with the Sparks. The series went the full five games, ending with Nneka Ogwumike’s dramatic game-winner in the final seconds. For Minnesota, it was a bitter finish to what had been a season of dominance.
Seattle Storm (2010) — 13 Games
The 2010 Storm combined veteran leadership and superstar talent. Lauren Jackson won both MVP and Finals MVP, Sue Bird commanded the backcourt and Swin Cash brought toughness and versatility. Seattle’s 13-game win streak carried them to a 28-6 record, tied for the best in the league that season.
They went 7-0 in the playoffs, sweeping the Atlanta Dream in the Finals and becoming just the second team in WNBA history to finish the postseason undefeated.
San Antonio Silver Stars (2012) – 12 Games
The 2012 Silver Stars remain the benchmark season for the franchise before it relocated to Las Vegas. Becky Hammon, Sophia Young and Danielle Robinson led the way as the team finished 21-13, highlighted by a 12-game midseason win streak that matched the best in franchise history.
The Silver Stars entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the West, but were swept by the Sparks in the first round. For San Antonio, it was a reminder of how difficult the postseason can be even after a dominant regular-season stretch.
Los Angeles Sparks (2000) – 12 Games (Twice)
The Sparks went 28-4 in 2000, setting a then-league record for regular-season wins and posting two separate 12-game winning streaks. Los Angeles appeared poised to break through for its first championship. Instead, they ran into the Comets in the Western Conference Finals.
The Comets swept the Sparks on their way to a fourth consecutive championship, delaying L.A.’s title breakthrough until 2001. Even so, the 2000 Sparks are remembered as one of the most dominant regular-season teams in league history.
What’s Next for the Aces
The Aces have four regular-season games left. Their next matchup is at home against the Lynx on Sept. 4 at T-Mobile Arena. They will then host the Sky for consecutive games on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9 before closing the regular season on the road against the Sparks on Sept. 11.
Three of those four games will be played at home, giving Las Vegas a favorable schedule as it looks to secure the No. 2 seed in the standings and maintain momentum heading into the postseason.
History suggests the Aces are in the right place. Nine of the previous 10 teams with streaks of at least 12 games reached the Finals, seven went on to win it all, including all three with streaks longer than 13 games. With Wilson powering another historic stretch, Las Vegas enters September with both dynasty implications and championship expectations firmly in view.
