Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) drives on Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (left) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sun Aug 10, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

Despite struggling this season, the Connecticut Sun (5-25) gave the Las Vegas Aces (18-14) all they could handle in the first half of their matchup with the two teams tied at the half 45 points apiece. Las Vegas fought back leading after three quarters 70-62 winning the game 94-86 Sunday.

With this win the Aces are tied with the Indiana Fever for fifth place. A’ja Wilson finished the game with 32 points and 20 rebounds. Jackie Young had a 12 point first quarter finishing with 21 points. This was their fourth win in a row.

Game recap: The Aces took their largest lead of the game 14-6 at 5:32 in the opening ten minutes of play. The Sun pushed back erasing the Aces eight point lead cutting it in half 18-14 with 3 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter.

Young started the game with a hot hand already hitting 12 points with two minutes left in the quarter. Every time the Aces extended their lead, the Sun pushed back hard pulling to within two points with under two minutes left on the clock 22-24. With under a minute left in the opening quarter the Sun took a 28-26 lead.

Connecticut had hit five of eight from beyond the arc and the Aces had to contain the Sun’s long ball in the second quarter. After the first ten minutes of play the Sun had taken a 31-27 lead and had gone on a 15 to 3 run. After a hot start, the Aces had really cooled off. Las Vegas already had five turnovers, the Sun only two. Las Vegas had to put the stops on the Sun’s success from beyond the arc.

The Sun did not back down to start the second quarter and in fact continued to extend their lead 39-30 in the opening minutes. This was not the start to the second quarter that Las Vegas had envisioned.

The Sun took a ten-point lead, the largest of the game, 43-33 prompting a time-out for the Aces. After a great first quarter start, the Aces had fallen flat offensively and were struggling defensively.

The Sun’s confidence continued to build as the second quarter wore on leading 45-38 with 4:33 left in the half. Las Vegas needed to trim the Sun’s lead before halftime. The Aces went on a 10-0 run in the final minutes of the second quarter cutting their 12 point deficit to two points. Las Vegas tied up the game at 45 going into the half and it was a new ball game.

The Aces had really turned this game back in their favor in the later minutes of the second quarter. Young had hit 14 points and Wilson was closing in on another double double with 13 points and nine rebounds after two quarters. Las Vegas had to take back control of this game and cut down on the turnovers.

Las Vegas turned this game around in the third quarter taking their largest lead of the game so far with 11 points and leading 70-62 after three quarters.

Connecticut continued to hang around but unlike the second quarter when the Sun pushed, the Aces successfully pushed right back taking an 82-71 lead after the Sun had pulled to within 6 points with 6:35 left in the game.

With 5 1/2 minutes left on the clock Wilson had 28 points and 18 rebounds taking her team to an 86-73 lead. The Aces continue to work their way up the standings. They are without doubt playing with playoff mentality. Their defense really clicked in the second half.

Wilson finished with 20 rebounds, a career high, and 32 points. The Aces locked in defensively to pull off their fourth win in a row.

Game notes: The Aces continued their homestand defeating the struggling Sun Sunday evening at Michelob ULTRA Arena. They had a great win over the Seattle Storm Friday night 90-86 in a nail-biter of a fourth quarter. With the win Friday night the Aces have pulled into sixth place a half game behind the fifth place Indiana Fever. There will be a lot of shuffling as the season enters its final push.

Las Vegas will face a tough assignment on Wednesday evening taking on the New York Liberty but will continue to play with home court advantage before heading out on the road taking on Phoenix on Friday night. Tipoff for the Aces game with the Liberty is scheduled for 6:30 PM PT.