The Las Vegas Aces looked back to their best as they registered a dominant victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night, with the game finishing 81-96 in favor of the 2023 WNBA champions. Despite struggling to find consistency in their performances, the Aces find themselves sitting fifth overall in the regular-season standings with a record of three wins and two losses.
Jackie Young continued her impressive start to the season as she scored 26 points in 36 minutes on the floor. However, it was A’ja Wilson who deservedly stole the show in this matchup as she sensationally recorded historic statistics.
A'ja Wilson stuns fans with a historic night
It is no secret that Wilson is one of the most well-rounded players ever to grace a WNBA court as she continually stuffs every column on her stats sheet. Nevertheless, the numbers that the three-time Most Valuable Player chalked up against the Sparks were nothing short of remarkable. She finished the game with 35 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks, and a field-goal percentage of 66.7 percent.
These statistics cemented the South Carolina legend as the first player in WNBA history to record 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, 3+ blocks, and 3+ steals in a game. Not only this, but Wilson also became the first player in WNBA history to record multiple games with 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists.
On a night when the 28-year-old steamrolled her way through legacies that her predecessors had previously carved with no remorse, the star also joined an exclusive club to which only legendary forward Breanna Stewart has been granted access. Both Wilson and Stewart are now tied for the most games with 35+ points and 10+ rebounds in WNBA history with nine.
These are not the first records that the Aces forward has demolished in her stunning career so far, as she scored the most points in a single regular season campaign (1021) and averaged the highest-ever points per game tally in a single season (26.9) over 38 games in 2024.
Yet, Wilson is more than just a player who has the ability to manufacture moments of history, she is an essential cog in every aspect of Las Vegas' game plan. During the Sparks matchup, the Aces were +23 in points differential with their talisman on the floor. In comparison, they were -9 in points differential in the four minutes that she was not on the floor, a problem that has come to fruition since the deadly Kelsey Plum was questionably traded to the Sparks.
It was a monumental night for A'ja Wilson as she continues to sculpt an illustrious career that will inevitably lead to an induction into the Hall of Fame. However, the phenomenal record-breaking also highlights the problem that the Aces are faced with when their superstar is not on the floor—a problem they must find a solution to if they are to regain their status as champions.