Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson looks like she’s taking the ball over the goal line but fell with the ball. Wilson set a WNBA record scoring 25 pts, 10 rebounds, and 5 rebounds a first by a player in WNBA history against the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Wed Jun 5, 2024 (AP photo)

By Barbara Mason

las Vegas Aces (4-2) A’ja Wilson put up huge numbers Wednesday night against the Dallas Wings (4-3). She has been a force for years and continues to improve year after year. She finished with 36 points and 12 rebounds. The Wings challenged at times getting as close as three points in the third quarter but Las Vegas responded every time. The newly signed Tiffany Hayes had a terrific game off the bench with 11 points.

Game recap: Las Vegas got a quick start leading after the first ten minutes of play 29-16. The Wings were a bit slow to start but more then made up for it in the second quarter. As the first half wound down, the Wings had outscored the Aces 23-10 in a great run.

They had trailed by as much as 20 points in the quarter and had mounted an amazing comeback. At the half the Aces lead had been cut to five points 47-42. Dallas had won the second quarter 26-18.

A’ja Wilson had a terrific first half finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Kelsey Plum had also scored in double digits with 13 points. Las Vegas would have to dig deep to get past a tenacious Wings who had really turned this game around in their favor.

The Wings had three players in double digits after the first two quarters. The incomparable Arike Ogunbowale finished the half with 16 points, Maddy Siegrist had scored 10 points and Teaira McCowan also had 10 points and 7 rebounds.

Las Vegas had their work cut out for them going into the second half. They had let Dallas back in this game and they needed to shut them down and take away any momentum the Wings had built up in the second quarter. The second quarter was also extremely physical and more of the same would no doubt persist into the third quarter.

The Wings kept pace with the Aces throughout the third quarter but were unable to take the lead. They trailed early by only three points but the Aces pushed back taking as much as a ten point lead.

With two minutes left in the third the Aces were hanging onto a 63-59 lead. After three quarters Las Vegas had pushed their lead to 75-61. A’ja Wilson had scored 30 points going into the final quarter. The Aces were shooting 51.9 % while the Wings had shot 32.1 % through three quarters.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Aces had built a an 80-63 lead. Missed shots as well as turnovers were really hurting the Wings cause. Dallas challenged Las Vegas at times but the Aces responded every time. Las Vegas simply outplayed the Wings winning this game 95-81 for a 5-2 record. The second half of this game was all Aces.

A’ja Wilson finished this game with 36 points and 14 rebounds. Kelsey Plum had 20 points and Jackie Young shot for 19 points. Alysha Clark also had a solid game with nine points. Tiffany Hayes played a terrific game off the bench with 11 points and six rebounds.

The former Connecticut Sun and Atlanta Dream star came out of retirement signing with the Aces last Friday. This fiery competitor will add another dimension to the powerhouse Aces.

Game notes: Wednesday night the Aces took on the Wings at College Park Center in a Commissioner’s Cup matchup. This is the first time the two teams have met since Las Vegas beat the Wings in three-straight games in the 2023 semi-finals. The Aces have not played since last Friday losing to the Dream in a close game 78-74.

The Wings lost to the Lynx last Sunday 87-76 for their second loss in a row. Both teams will be looking to get back on the winning track. Wednesday night the two top scorers in the WNBA A’Ja Wilson for Las Vegas and Arike Ogunbowale for Dallas met.

Wilson finsished with 36 points and Ogunbowale with 31. Dallas is down two starters and Ogunbowale carried the load for her team. Despite still being without Chelsea Gray, the Aces still have the highest scoring and most efficient offenses in the league thanks to A’ja Wilson who gets better and better every season.

Las Vegas will be back home at Michelob ULTRA Arena for a matchup with the Seattle Storm Friday night. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.