It's another win for the Las Vegas Aces in a record-breaking night for MVP A’ja Wilson. However, there was also another big factor in the Aces' first win on the road: DEFENSE.
The Aces beat the Minnesota Lynx in a 80-66 victory on Wednesday. Though the game started out slow on both ends–with neither team leading by more than four in the first quarter–the galaxy of star athletes that is the Aces blasted their way to victory.
Wilson and Jackie Young both hit doubles for the night, with Wilson tallying 29 points and 15 rebounds to record her fifth consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound game.
Coach Becky Hammon, nonetheless, took note of their defense and praised Young and Kelsey Plum for helping bring the D in the first road game. The Aces tactician said postgame, “The ability to just keep people in front, keep the ball in front, keep her man in front, and then after that we go play.”
Young finished with 19 points, five boards and 10 dimes. Plum added in 10 points with six assists, and she drew some high praise from Hammon as well.
“Her defense was off the charts,” Coach Hammon said of Plum.
Las Vegas ups defense
The Aces knew it coming into the game that the Lynx had the advantage on defense.
In somewhat of a shocking turn of events, Minnesota came into Wednesday’s night game against the back-to-back WNBA champions with the best offense in the league. But after taking a 43-34 lead at the half on Minnesota’s home turf, the visiting Aces never looked back. Las Vegas never trailed again and they made it hard for the Lynx to pull ahead.
“This is probably the best defensive team we have played thus far,” Coach Hammon said. “We know we’re best when we’re playing defense.”
From tip off, the Lynx were holding opponents to 26.4 percent from beyond the arc. But the home team couldn't keep this up. The Aces locked in the defense in the fourth, allowing Minnesota to score only 10 points in the final quarter. Putting an end to any chance of a comeback for the Lynx.
An 18-5 run in the fourth quarter broke open a two-possession game, and the victory moved the Aces into second place in the WNBA standings.
Las Vegas Aces MVP shows why she’s A’One
Aces star trio of Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and A'ja Wilson put up 18 points in the fourth.
But as always in Vegas, it’s all in. Rookie Kate Martin proved money and knocked a couple of threes down for a total of nine points during Wednesday’s away game. Alysha Clark came into the Target center hot, draining the first three of the night to kick off the game. Clark finished with nine points as well.
Once again, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year had a record breaking night. Wilson's fifth-consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound game breaks the WNBA record of four straight 20-10 games. The record was previously held by Sylvia Fowles (twice), Tina Charles and Glory Johnson.
After grabbing 15 rebounds Wednesday, Wilson now has 10 or more rebounds in five straight games. This is the longest active streak in the league. Candace Parker owns the WNBA record with 12 consecutive double-digit rebound performances.
Wilson and the Aces remain on the road this Friday, May 31 to take on the Atlanta Dream at 7:30pm.
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