Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson tied the WNBA’s all-time single-game scoring record with 53 points in Tuesday’s 112-100 win over the Atlanta Dream. Here’s what you need to know:
- Wilson is just the third WNBA player to score at least 50 points in a game; Liz Cambage was the last to reach this milestone in 2018.
- The two-time league MVP shot 16-of-23 from the field and 20-for-21 from the free-throw line to go with seven rebounds and four blocks.
- The Aces currently have the best record in the WNBA at 29-4.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
How was Wilson so effective?
Wilson was dominant all over the offensive end of the floor. She made her first field goal (a 13-foot jumper) just under a minute into the game, and continued to score all over from there, missing just seven field goal attempts.
After the win, last year’s WNBA MVP credited her teammates for giving her the basketball in spaces she felt comfortable attacking and she added that the team’s defense tightening (Las Vegas allowed just 13 third-quarter points) helped its offensive flow.
In addition to tying the single-game scoring record, Wilson’s 20 made free throw are the second-most in a single-game in WNBA history, behind only Cynthia Cooper, who made 22 during a game in July of 1998. Similarly, Wilson’s 69…
