A’ja Wilson scored 34 points and had 12 rebounds, leading the Las Vegas Aces to a 101-91 victory over the Seattle Storm on Monday night at Michelob Ultra Arena.
The victory extended the Aces’ winning streak to four games.
Wilson became the 19th player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 career points. She is both the youngest player and the fastest player to reach that milestone, accomplishing the feat in 278 games.
“It seems like she is breaking a record every single day,” said Aces head coach Becky Hammon. “Nothing surprises me with this woman; she has nine dimes tonight, and she just keeps getting better and better.
“She just spreads the whole floor. As far as how many records she is going to break, it’s going to be a lot before it is all said and done.”
Wilson, the 29-year-old four-time MVP, also recorded three blocks on the night to move into the No. 7 spot on the all-time blocked shot leaders list in the league’s history with 558.
“It is easy to be good on one side of the basketball, but can you be great on both? That is what I strive to do every single game,” Wilson said.
“It is not easy at all, but I am surrounded by women who make sure that I can trust them, and I hope that I can be the same for them.”
With the win, the Aces are now 3-0 in the Commissioners Cup play after previously defeating both the Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries, and now have claimed sole possession of second place in the Western Conference standings.
Las Vegas took the game’s momentum in the second quarter, outscoring the Storm 10-0 over a two-minute stretch, building a lead the Aces never relinquished.
Despite being held to 20 points in the paint against the Valkyries in their last game, the Aces returned to their proficient ways around the basket, tallying 40 points, just below their 43.2-point average, which was second in the league entering the game.
In addition to Wilson’s performance, Aces guard Jackie Young continued her hot stretch, tallying 29 points on the night and at least 15 points in five straight games.
Forward NaLyssa Smith also contributed 16 while shooting a perfect six-for-six from the field and racking up four and-ones in the second quarter.
The team secured its second four-game win streak of the season, despite Aces guard Chennedy Carter being held out of her third straight game with a leg injury sustained on May 31 against the Valkyries, in which she played for nine minutes and posted six points.
The Storm was led in scoring by Dominique Malonga with 19 points while shooting 58% from the floor, but it was not enough to avoid the team’s 10th loss of the season and sixth consecutive loss.
The Aces will head back on the road for a quick one-game road trip to take on the Portland Fire on Thursday before returning to Michelob Ultra Arena for a potential battle for first place in the Western Conference against the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday.