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Another third quarter pull away sealed victory for the Las Vegas Aces but the biggest star of the night was two-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who set a new career-high.
Fueled by a 14-1 third quarter run, Las Vegas beat Washington, 113-89, Friday, Aug. 11 from the Michelob Ultra Arena in the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Aces were returning from a two-game road trip where they went .500.
“Today we had moments where we really needed to buckle down as a team and we did,” guard Kelsey Plum said. “Defensively and on the boards – [guard Jackie Young] hit some big threes to kind of open up the game. And A’ja was just the MVP.”
Still leading the league, Las Vegas sits over everyone with a 26-3 overall record. This most recent game from The House marked the first home game for the team in 10 days but initiated the start of a four-game homestand.
The Atlanta Dream are next on the schedule with a 6 p.m. Sunday night tip-off from the Michelob Ultra Arena.
Wilson became the second player in team history to record 40 points in a game, both of which came this season. She posted 40 points on 17-of-25 from the floor, setting a new career-high in points.
Her performance ties Plum’s 40-point outing against Dallas from earlier this season.
“I think it’s awesome,” Plum said. “I’m sure that she’s going to break it again in some capacity, maybe I will try to too.”
It started early for the reigning MVP, as she scored 15 points in the game’s opening quarter. By halftime, the six-year pro tallied 24 points.
“This is probably my first 40-ball in my whole career,” Wilson said. “And I also imagined when you get 40, there’s just this feeling you get and I really didn’t feel it and I love that because it was in the flow of the offense.”
Wilson also added 12 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season while she moved into second place in franchise history in rebounds.
Plum didn’t score her first points until nearly midway through the second quarter but once she did, she rattled off three straight makes. However, she did most of her damage with her passing.
“When we talk about growth, that is some growth right there,” Wilson said. “I’m so proud of this girl [...] Every single day she comes in and she’s getting better.”
By the final buzzer, Plum had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting with a season-high 10 assists, all of which came through the first three quarters of the game. During the contest, she surpassed the 2,500 career points mark.
Guard Chelsea Gray also posted 19 points while eclipsing the 3,500 career points. The aforementioned Young added 17 points including nine in the first quarter.
“That’s why we’re a great team,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “It could be anybody on any given night at any different moment in the game.”
Hammon will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Fame tomorrow night as part of the 2023 class.
“Just Hall-of-Fame all-around,” Wilson said. “I wouldn’t want to play [for] anyone else especially at this level. Someone who is going to get it out of us because she sees the potential and what we’re able to do and holds us accountable [...] When you talk about a person that’s a Hall-of-Famer, it’s Becky Hammon for sure.”
It was a relatively clean game played both ways with both teams combining for just seven total turnovers through the first half. By game’s end, there was a 56 total number of assists by both teams.
Washington kept battling back, even tying the game after falling behind by as many as 11 points.
“In the first half, we didn’t do a great job on the boards,” Plum said. “When you give a team like that second chance opportunities or layups at the rim or open threes it’s going to be a ballgame.”
Late in the game, Mystics guard Natasha Cloud left the game after taking a spill on the hardwood. Entering the game, Washington was without key pieces Elena Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins, Kristi Toliver and Shakira Austin.