Aces star A’ja Wilson put on a record-breaking performance as Las Vegas swept the Chicago Sky in the first round of the WNBA playoffs with a 92-70 win on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Wilson recorded 38 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and four blocks, making her the first player in any WNBA game with a 35/15/3/3 stat line. She achieved the mark while playing only 30 minutes.
- The two-time MVP also set a franchise record for most points in a playoff game, surpassing her coach Becky Hammon who previously held the top spot in Aces history.
- Las Vegas beat Chicago 87-59 on Sept. 13 and will now face the winner of the Wings-Dream matchup in the semifinal series beginning Sept. 24.
38 POINTS 🔥
That’s a playoff franchise record for the M’VP!@_ajawilson22 // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/ywv04sThyj
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 17, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
Breaking down Wilson’s historic night
From the opening minutes of Sunday’s Game 2, Wilson asserted her dominance on both ends of the floor. Offensively, she finished the first quarter with 10 points. Last year’s Defensive Player of the Year showed why she might take home that honor for the second consecutive season, as she added three steals and three blocks in the opening frame.
Wilson…
