A’ja Wilson Shines as Aces Defeat Sparks 79-69

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A’ja Wilson delivered a standout performance with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks, leading the Las Vegas Aces to a 79-69 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night. Jackie Young contributed significantly with 16 points and nine assists, while Chelsea Gray added 12 points alongside 11 assists for the Aces, who improved their record to 6-3.

With this game, Wilson climbed to eighth place on the WNBA's all-time blocks list, surpassing Tammy Sutton-Brown with a total of 555 blocks. For the Sparks, Rae Burrell had a personal best of 22 points, and Nneka Ogwumike recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Burrell showcased her scoring ability, shooting 7 of 10 from the floor for 17 points through the first three quarters, while her teammates struggled, combining for just 34 points on 8 of 38 shooting.

The Aces gained momentum in the third quarter, executing an 8-0 run to establish a 57-42 lead. Young capped off the period with a floater, extending the advantage to 13 points with just 5.6 seconds remaining. Despite Burrell's three-point play pulling the Sparks to 71-64 late in the game, Las Vegas sealed their win when Wilson completed a three-point play to push the lead back to 10.

Los Angeles was without Kelsey Plum, who missed her third consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Additionally, Dearica Hamby had an off night, going 0 for 7 from the field, marking her first game without a made field goal since July 9, 2023.

Looking ahead, the Aces will host Golden State on Saturday, while the Sparks will continue their homestand on Friday against Dallas.