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Guard Jackie Young and forward A’ja Wilson combined for 49 points as the Las Vegas Aces beat the Minnesota Lynx, 102-81, Wednesday, Sept. 8 from the Michelob Ultra Arena.
The win propels Las Vegas to 21-8 on the season and 12-3 at home.
Moreover, the win also moves the team to 1.5 games back of the WNBA-leading Connecticut Sun.
Las Vegas returns to action Monday, Sept. 18 against the Dallas Wings. Tip-off is at 12:00 p.m.
The Aces avoided the season-series sweep thanks to a career night from Young. After the game, the team surrounded Young and celebrated her career-high 29 points.
Wilson took to Twitter after the game to congratulate her teammate’s career night.
“Proud of you,” Wilson tweeted with a heart emoji.
Wilson contributed 20 points and six rebounds on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting from the field.
The reigning Most Valuable Player was without her fellow tower in the middle, center Liz Cambage, who is currently out due to health and safety protocols following a positive COVID-19 test last week.
Despite Cambage being out, Las Vegas had some reinforcements return to the lineup versus Minnesota.
Forward Dearica Hamby, who missed time with a lingering ankle sprain, returned to the floor and scored 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting.
Hamby was active in her first game back slashing to the basket and getting some easy looks in the paint.
Point guard Chelsea Gray dished out a game-high 14 assists and kept Minnesota’s defense in the palm of her hand with some sweet dishes to Hamby and Wilson.
The game was knotted up at 27 apiece following a high-scoring first quarter, but the Aces buckled in defensively and held the Lynx to 14 points in the second quarter to finish the first half on a strong note.
It was more of the same in the second half for Las Vegas as it held Minnesota to just 40 points in the second half.