22/12/2024

A'ja Wilson puts up historic line in Aces' win over Wings - ESPN

Hace 7 meses

A'ja Wilson puts up historic line in Aces' win over Wings - ESPN

A'ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals in a game as the Aces beat the Wings.

A'ja Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals in a game as the Aces beat the Wings.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- A'ja Wilson had 36 points, 12 rebounds and 6 steals to help the Las Vegas Aces beat the Dallas Wings 95-81 on Wednesday night.

Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to have at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals in a game. She also is the first with at least 35 points and 5 steals in multiple games.

Wednesday's outing was her 10th career game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, and she became the seventh WNBA player with 10 or more such games, joining Tina Charles, Breanna Stewart, Lauren Jackson, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie and Brittney Griner.

Wilson's performance came in a physical game that left her face bloodied when she was hit multiple times while driving to the hoop, and that drew frustrations from the Aces, with coach Becky Hammon receiving a technical.

"I just take what the defense gives me and just the flow of the game," Wilson said. "My teammates really just kept me afloat."

She apologized for her actions toward one of the officials "in the heat of the moment," adding: "It's frustrating. ... You just want the right call. And we didn't get it, and that's OK. We're gonna keep playing, we're gonna keep pushing. But one thing about our locker room and who we are, we're not gonna back down. I don't think we've got refs that swung our way in a minute, so we're not expecting to get anything. We have to go out there and take everything, so we'll continue to push."

Hammon said Wilson was "bruised from head to toe" and that her star center told her she felt like she was playing the Dallas Cowboys.

As for Wilson's performance and standing in the league, Hammon highlighted her consistency and leadership.

"And then her game," Hammon said. "Do we have to pound that point? I mean, she's the best in the world."

Wilson scored 12 of her team's opening 20 points, and Tiffany Hayes made her first basket in a Las Vegas uniform to build a 22-6 lead.

The Aces led 29-16 at the end of the first quarter after shooting 63% from the field.

Las Vegas was ahead by as many as 20 points in the first half before Dallas rallied to get within 47-42 at the break. Wilson finished the half with 20 points and nine of Las Vegas' 18 field goals.

Jackie Young made a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to extend Las Vegas' lead to 63-52. Alysha Clark added another 3-pointer to open the fourth-quarter scoring for a 78-61 advantage.

Kelsey Plum scored 20 points, and Young, who did not participate in the shootaround because of an illness, added 19 for Las Vegas (5-2). Hayes, who started all 40 games for the Connecticut Sun last season, scored 11 points for the Aces after joining the team Friday.

Arike Ogunbowale, who has topped the Wings in scoring in all eight games, scored 31 points for Dallas (3-5). Teaira McCowan made her first career 3-pointer in the first half and finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Maddy Siegrist also scored 14 points, and Monique Billings added 12.

Wilson is averaging 27.9 points and 12.6 rebounds, the first WNBA player to put up at least 25 points and 10 rebounds through the first seven games. Previously, no one had maintained such averages for more than the first four games of a campaign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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