A’ja Wilson comes up huge as Aces cruise previous Mercury

A’ja Wilson recorded game highs with 41 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Las Vegas Aces to a 97-79 win over the host Phoenix Mercury on Sunday afternoon.

Wilson, a leading candidate for WNBA Most Valuable Player, made 16 of 23 shots. Kelsey Plum added 16 points, and Jackie Young had 11 points and tied an Aces record with 14 assists.

Las Vegas (20-12) dominated from the start, quickly building a double-digit lead and never allowing the Mercury back into the game. The Aces had already clinched a playoff spot.

The Mercury (16-17) lost their third straight game but still currently hold a playoff spot. Brittney Griner’s 24 points led Phoenix, which trailed 29-10 after the first quarter.

Sophie Cunningham added 16 points and Kahleah Copper 15.

Wilson had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first half alone as the Aces took a 34-point lead at one point in the second quarter. A short stepback from Wilson with 2:31 left in the first half gave Las Vegas a 50-16 lead, the Aces’ largest of the day.

The Aces lost guard Chelsea Gray to a back injury with 8:36 left in the second quarter, on an offensive foul against Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper. Gray took a hard fall on the play and went to the locker room.

Frustration boiled over for the Mercury as the Aces were in full control and maintained it. Phoenix guards Natasha Cloud and Diana Taurasi picked up technical fouls, and because of an accumulation of such violations (seven each) will have to sit out the Mercury’s next game, unless the calls are later rescinded.

Copper also was whistled for a technical foul, hers coming in the third quarter. The Mercury lead the WNBA in technical fouls this season with 33.

Las Vegas led by as many as 29 in the third quarter before the Mercury made a run to cut into the lead. Cunningham swished a 3-pointer in transition off a steal, and the Mercury trailed 69-52 at the 3:17 mark.

Phoenix outscored Las Vegas 31-24 in the third quarter but couldn’t rally in the fourth.

–Field Level Media