Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson (22) waves to fans as she leaves the court following the Aces 90-72 win over the Chicago Sky in Game 2 of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series at Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Published Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 | 2:10 p.m.
Updated Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 | 5:08 p.m.
It’s becoming the norm for A’ja Wilson to dominate.
She drives to the basket with her left hand. No one can stop her. She rolls without the ball for an easy layup. The defense can’t recover. She pulls up for a 15-foot jumper. It’s nearly automatic.
Each time Wilson sets a new Aces record or continues climbing the all-time leaderboard, it’s second nature. The challenge from the defense doesn’t exist.
Wilson proved that again on Sunday, setting a franchise playoff record with 38 points and 16 rebounds to push the Aces to the WNBA semifinals with a 92-70 win over the Chicago Sky in Game 2 of their first-round series at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Talk about the norm for Wilson, it’s becoming commonplace for the Aces to be one of the last four teams standing. This is the fifth consecutive year, in six seasons since the Aces relocated from San Antonio to Las Vegas, that the Aces are in the league semis.
They will face the winner of the Atlanta Dream-Dallas Wings series. Game 2 of that matchup is Tuesday in Dallas, with the Wings up 1-0.
Wilson shot 15 of 23 from the floor and chipped in with four blocks and three steals. She surpassed coach Becky Hammon’s playoff record of 35 points set in September 2008. Jackie Young had 15 points, and Alysha Clark had 14 points off the bench.
“Every single day, I’m grateful to be able to come to work and play with some elite, professional women,” Wilson said.
Talk to any of Wilson’s teammates and they’ll repeat the sentiment that she’s the most selfless superstar ever. The way she carries herself and holds herself accountable are the traits that set her apart.
No one will be harder on themselves after a bad game than Wilson. Last postseason, she shot 3 of 10 and had eight points in Game 1 against the Seattle Storm in the semifinals. She responded with a then playoff career-high 33 points to even the series, the first of three straight wins to get to the WNBA Finals.
When she shines like she did Sunday, there’s no one that does it better.
“I’m blessed,” Wilson said. “That’s how I take those moments in, that I’m playing for that next young little black girl that wants to play. Knowing I can be that for her, it keeps me going every single day.”
It was fitting that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year anchored a defensive performance to push the Aces to the next round.
The Sky shot 38% and turned it over 15 times. While the Aces didn’t shoot it well themselves (41.6%), they had 15 points off those turnovers and 16 fast-break points. Wilson and center Kiah Stokes combined for 26 of the Aces’ 46 rebounds — 15 of them on the offensive glass.
“On nights that our guards struggle from the floor, we have a pretty good option inside,” Hammon said. “She was spectacular tonight, A’ja was, on both ends of the floor.”
It wasn’t a cruise-control game for the Aces. They led by as many as 28 points but saw the lead shrink to nine in the fourth quarter, 71-62, which prompted Hammon to call her second timeout in less than three minutes.
The Aces answered with a 14-0 run to put the game away.
“I think it was just some missed shots that led to their quick transition, and I think we got stagnant at the offensive end,” Clark said. “We knew they weren’t going to just lay down and quit. We were happy with how we responded to that run.”
Hammon’s biggest concern this series was slowing down Chicago’s three-guard attack of Kahleah Copper, Courtney Williams and Marina Mabrey. Despite Copper scoring a team-high 25 points Sunday, the Aces held the three combined to below 40% shooting in both games.
It’s a luxury, Hammon said, to have Wilson, Clark and Stokes able to guard all five positions.
“Bigs have to be alert and present, but also shut down the paint,” she said. “They can handle the job and the fact A’ja, Kiah and Alysha Clark can guard 1-5 is a luxury for the different things you can do.”
The road to winning a second straight championship won’t get easier. But the Aces didn’t have this version of Wilson last year; taking over and dominating every time she touched the ball.
The Aces are three wins away from getting the chance to go back-to-back. So long as Wilson keeps this up, the odds are great.
“I’m happy she’s my teammate because I know what a load she is from a defensive standpoint,” Clark said of Wilson. “To be able to have that on your side, it’s a luxury.”
Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.
