The Las Vegas Aces are off to a stellar 6-3 start to their season and Thursday night’s 94-82 victory over the New York Liberty took head coach Bill Laimbeer to second place in career wins (288), passing former Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm head coach Brian Agler.
🚨 HISTORY.
— WNBA (@WNBA) June 4, 2021
Bill Laimbeer surpasses Brian Agler to sit at No. 2 in all-time #WNBA wins!#CountIt pic.twitter.com/Qd15LKqqLp
Laimbeer was a four-time All Star and two-time champion during his days in the NBA. Since retiring in 1993, he’s seen similar success in the realm of coaching, leading the WNBA’s Detroit Shock to three championships during his 2002-2009 reign.
After a short stint as an assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2009-2011, Laimbeer returned to the WNBA this time as the general manager and head coach of the rebuilding New York Liberty.
Five seasons later, coaching the Liberty to a 92-78 record and three consecutive playoff appearances, Laimbeer would go on to helm the Aces’ expansion to Las Vegas.
The 64-year-old has led them to a 39-17 record over the past two seasons.
Under Laimbeer, the Aces made their first Conference Finals appearance in 2019 and the organizations first WNBA Finals appearance last season, where they would lose 3-0 to the Seattle Storm.
“Any coach will tell you you’re measured by how good your players are. You can have all the best X’s and O’s, you can have all the best interpersonal skills, but you still have to have great players. I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have quality players and if I didn’t, I went out and got some,” Laimbeer said.
With superstars like reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and All-Star Liz Cambage still on board in Sin City, Laimbeer’s climb up the record books goes hand-in-hand with the Aces making another run at their first WNBA championship.
Currently, Washington Mystics head coach Mike Thibault is the WNBA’s all-time leader in regular season wins, with a career record of 345-255.
