A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young took one look at the team's Saturday schedule and said: "Not today." The pair combined for a ferocious 60 points against the Golden State Valkyries, an effort that secured the Aces' narrow 104-102 win at home.
The Aces kicked off the game with an 11-4 burst and were cruising on high until Tiffany Hayes cut down the lead by six with back-to-back threes. Wilson racked up her first 7 points of the night during that initial run and finished out the first quarter with a season high 13 points, a sign of things to come.
The Valkyries opened up the second with a strong start, but Wilson was not to be reckoned with — she quickly sparked another run for the Aces by adding on 7 points of her own before ending the quarter with 12 of the team's 22 points. The third quarter remained tight — the teams were often within no more than 3 points of one another — and Young combined with Jewell Loyd to rack up 28 points.
The fourth quarter was an intense battle fraught with tension for both teams. The Aces' 14-9 run was met with a 10-2 run from the Valkyries, who were determinedly holding their own against the team they previously beat 95-68 on June 7. Young added 10 points (six from the line), each of which were necessary to ultimately best Golden State.
A'ja Wilson is on a double-double tear
The performance was Wilson's third double-double with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, and the three-time MVP is currently responsible for three of four such double-doubles made recently (the Lynx's Napheesa Collier is responsible for one). Wilson has recorded 19 30 point double-doubles, the most in WNBA history (Tina Charles and Breanna Stewart each have 15) — the effort also brings her career double-doubles up to 106. The game was also Young's fifth 30 point match of her career.
Wilson seems on track for All Star
Despite worries that she might miss the upcoming All Star Game due to a wrist injury, Wilson's performance all but guarantees she will be playing in the game Saturday. Wilson was drafted by Caitlin Clark and will be coached by the Liberty's Sandy Brondello.
The 6'4" center injured her wrist during the Aces' July 8 game against the Liberty and missed the team's next game against the Lynx two days later.