A’ja Wilson sets franchise mark as Aces pound hapless Wings

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Sun Jul 07 2024 21:57
WNBA: Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles SparksMay 25, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Wilson official basketball with WNBA logo goes through the net during the game between the LA Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

A'ja Wilson had 28 points and 10 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces pulled away to a 104-85 victory against the Dallas Wings on Sunday afternoon.

Along the way Wilson surpassed Sophia Young-Malcolm's 4,300 career points to become the franchise's all-time leader. Kelsey Plum added 23 points, Jackie Young had 18 points and six rebounds, and Chelsea Gray scored 12 for the Aces (13-7), who took control by outscoring the Wings 26-17 in the third quarter and won for the seventh time in eight games.

Odyssey Sims scored 25 points, Natasha Howard had 14 points and eight rebounds and Arike Ogunbowale had 13 points and six rebounds for the Wings (5-17), who lost for the 15th time in 17 games.

Wilson scored the first five points of the third quarter to start a 9-0 run that gave the Aces a 60-48 lead.

Sims' field goal produced the Wings' first points 2 1/2 minutes into the period before Young made consecutive baskets to push the lead to 14 points.


Las Vegas led by as many as 16 points before holding a 77-65 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Sims made two baskets to help Dallas creep within 79-71 early in the fourth quarter. Wilson responded with a 3-pointer and Tiffany Hayes added two free throws to give the Aces a 13-point lead, and the Aces maintained control the rest of the way.

The lead changed hands seven times during a high-scoring first quarter. Ogunbowale led all scorers with nine points, and her second 3-pointer completed the Wings' scoring and helped them hold a 27-25 lead at the end of the period.

The second quarter featured six ties and five lead changes before Las Vegas made a push. Plum made consecutive baskets during an 8-0 run that gave the Aces a 46-40 lead.

Howard's jumper ended the run and Jacy Sheldon's field goal pulled Dallas even at 48. Plum's three-point play gave Las Vegas a 51-48 halftime lead.

--Field Level Media