A’ja Wilson reminded doubters why she’s a two-time MVP, making a press release and historical past Wednesday within the Las Vegas Aces’ 86-75 win over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.
Wilson posted a double-double within the victory, recording a game-high 27 factors and 12 boards. In the meantime, the longer term Corridor of Famer etched her title into the WNBA report books, setting the single-season report for factors in a season (956 and counting), passing Jewell Loyd (939 factors, 2023).
Now, Wilson owns the primary and fourth-highest (912 factors, 2023) scoring seasons in WNBA historical past. Moreover, she’s solely 44 factors from changing into the primary participant to achieve 1,000 profession factors.
Wednesday’s contest was tight for many of the night time, giving off a playoff-like vibe. That’s till Wilson took over down the stretch, eliminating any hopes that Clark and firm had of pulling off an upset.
With 7:19 remaining, a pair of free throws from NaLyssa Smith helped the Fever pull to inside six factors of the Aces, 72-66. Nonetheless, Wilson outscored Indiana herself from there, notching 11 of Las Vegas’ 14 factors the remainder of the way in which.
Conversely, Clark, who has not too long ago gained a push for MVP consideration, struggled a bit within the marquee matchup. The No. 1 decide shot simply 27.3 p.c from the sector (6-of-22) and completed 1-of-10 from three-point vary, however nonetheless managed to notch 16 factors, six assists and three rebounds within the loss.
Kelsey Mitchell picked up the slack, protecting the Fever inside arm’s attain effectively into the fourth quarter. The 2-time All-Star scored a team-high 24 factors, capturing 4-of-7 from past the arc to achieve 100 three-pointers for the second consecutive season.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t sufficient to cease Wilson, who posted at the least 27 factors and 12 rebounds in a recreation for the twenty first time in her profession. That is still essentially the most in WNBA historical past, six greater than another participant, per Stathead.