SOURCE SPORTS: A’ja Wilson Leads Aces to First-Round Sweep of Chicago Sky in WNBA Playoffs

A'ja Wilson Leads Aces to First-Round Sweep of Chicago Sky in WNBA Playoffs

The Las Vegas Aces are not playing games. The defending WNBA champions hit the playoffs and dispatched the Chicago Sky in a two-game, first-round sweep. A’Ja Wilson dropped 38 points and 16 rebounds in a 92-70 rout.

After their win, the Aces will now look forward to the winner of the Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream. The Wings are currently up 1-0 in the series, with a game 2 looming on Tuesday. The Aces will not return to the court again until Sunday.

“Our defense was where it needed to be, and A’ja Wilson was on another planet,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “She was spectacular on both ends.”

On the other end of the court, former Finals Kahleah Copper had 25 points and ten rebounds.

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A’ja Wilson Ties WNBA Scoring Record, LeBron Reacts To Her Doing It In LeBron 20s

On August 22, Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with a 53-point performance against the Atlanta Dream. The mark had previously been by Liz Cambage in 2018 while playing for the Dallas Wings. Wilson went 16-for-23 from the floor, as well as 20-for-21 from the free-throw line. However, the Aces needed every single point, eventually winning out 112-100. Furthermore, the win also saw the Aces tie the single-season wins record, set by the Mercury in 2014. Following last night’s victory, the Aces are 29-4.

“She runs like a deer, jumps like a cat and catches as if she were Spider-Man,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. “She is just special. Her real gift is in her humility and grace and how she handles herself and her teammates. She is a phenomenal superstar.” However, the recently enshrined Hall of Famer wasn’t the only person to praise Wilson’s performance. Lakers star LeBron James also got in on the action.

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LeBron Hypes Wilson’s Epic Performance

LeBron expressed his admiration for Wilson in response to a tweet from sneaker journalist Nick DePaula. DePaula had noted that Wilson’s record-tying performance was done in a pair of Lebron 20s. “Must be the 👟!!! Nah it’s definitely her game the whole way!! They do look good on her though! GO THE HELL OFF THEN SIS!!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 @_ajawilson22,” LeBron wrote as a quote tweet. Wilson chose the Lebron shoe over her own signature Nike for the game.

“I was just really aggressive today,” Wilson said of her own performance. “I’m out there having fun, and I get the opportunity to play with some amazing women. I don’t take these moments for granted. But it wasn’t a feeling like, ‘Oh, my God!’ It was kind of just in the flow. The biggest thing is just my timing. I see a lot of different defenses every possession.” The Aces will remain on the road for the rest of the week. They have games in Chicago, DC, and New York before closing out the month with a home game against the Mystics.

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SOURCE SPORTS: A’Ja Wilson Drops 53 Points to Tie WNBA Single-Game Scoring Record

A'Ja Wilson Drops 53 Points to Tie WNBA Single-Game Scoring Record

A’ja Wilson went crazy during the Las Vegas Aces’ Tuesday night game against the Atlanta Dream. Wilson had it going from the start, leading to the tie of a WNBA scoring record of 53 points.

For the game, Wilson shot 16-23 from the field, 20-21 from the three-throw line, while also adding in seven rebounds and four blocks. The Aces won 112-100.

“She runs like a deer, jumps like a cat and catches as if she were Spider-Man,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said to ESPN. “She is just special. Her real gift is in her humility and grace and how she handles herself and her teammates. She is a phenomenal superstar.”

The performance matches former WNBA player Liz Cambage who dropped 53 as a member of the Dallas Wings in July 2018. Riquna Williams scored 51 for the Tulsa Shock against San Antonio in 2013.

“I’m out there having fun, and I get the opportunity to play with some amazing women,” Wilson said. “I don’t take these moments for granted. But it wasn’t a feeling like, ‘Oh, my God!’ It was kind of just in the flow.”

You can see Wilson get buckets below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: A’Ja Wilson Named 2022 WNBA Most Valuable Player

A'Ja Wilson Named 2022 WNBA Most Valuable Player

One day after leading the Las Vegas Aces to the 2022 WNBA Finals, A’Ja Wilson has been named league MVP. The win is the second MVP award for Wilson, she previously won in 2020.

Wilson is now the seventh player in WNBA history to win the MVP Award more than once, joining Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, Elena Della Donne, and Candace Parker.

Late last month, Wilson was named the Defensive Player of the Year. She is the fifth player in league history to win both awards in a single season. The last to achieve the double win was Jackson in 2007. Yolanda Giffith, Swoopes, and Leslie are the others to win in the same season.

Second place in this year’s voting was Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart, third place was Wilson’s teammate Kelsey Plum and fourth was Alyssa Thomas of the Connecticut Sun. Fifth in voting was Candace Parker of The Chicago Sky.

In just her fifth season, Wilson averaged 19.95 points, 9.4 rebounds, shot 50.1 percent from the field and had 17 double-doubles across 36 games. She also led the league in blocks at 1.9 per game.

Wilson and the Aces will host the winner of the Sun and Sky in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals this Sunday.

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