A’ja Wilson is unstoppable as the Aces beat the Sparks 97-78
Las Vegas Aces #21 A’ja Wilson (F) driving to the basket against the Los Angeles Sparks #23 Azura Stevens (F) and #44 Karlie Samuelspn (F) at the Crypto.com Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - A'ja Wilson scored 25 points and 12 rebounds, Kelsey Plum with 21 points, five steals, and four assists, Chelsea Gray 16 points, and Jackie Young with 14 points helped the Las Vegas Aces (19-2) beat the short-handed Los Angeles Sparks (7-13) at the Crypto.com Arena 97-78.
Despite losing six straight games, Azura Stevens continues to shine after leading the Sparks in scoring with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Lexie Brown was out with a (non-COVID illness), Layshia Clarendon (foot), Chiney Ogwumike (foot), and Nia Clouden (knee) did not play for Los Angeles.
Back-to-back baskets by A'ja Wilson and a three-pointer by Jackie Young gave Las Vegas a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Wilson's three-pointer from the right side of the basket gave the Aces 12-4.
Los Angeles Sparks #23 Azura Stevens (F) shooting a three-pointer at the top of the key. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1
Zia Cooke's layup had the Sparks trailing 16-9, but Young, with a reverse- layup, had Vegas leading 18-9, forcing the Sparks to call a time-out. The Aces led 32-15 at the end of the first quarter, with Wilson scoring 16 points.
Jordin Canada gave a pass to Azura Stevens for a layup, and the Sparks trailed 32-17 in the second quarter. The Sparks trailed 35-19 with a pull-up jump shot by Nneka Ogwumike. The Aces led 43-22 with a layup by Young.
Los Angeles trailed at halftime 54-31 after Destanni Henderson's jump shot before the buzzer went off. Wilson led all players in scoring with 23 points on 9-11 shooting from the floor.
Karlie Samuelson's three-pointer from the top of the key had the Sparks trailing 55-41 in the third quarter. Kelsey Plum drove to the basket for a layup, had Vegas leading 64-46.
Gray's three-pointer gave the Aces a 75-52 lead with 39.8 seconds left in the third quarter. Vegas led 80-52 at the end of the third quarter.
Stevens drove to the basket for a floater and had the Sparks trailing 93-70 with 2:36 left in the fourth quarter. Rae Burrell would score the final points for the Sparks with a jump shot falling to the Aces 97-48.