Despite stumbling to start the season, the Las Vegas Aces have looked every bit like the defending champions, winning three straight games, including Friday night’s contest over the Connecticut Sun.
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And A’ja Wilson was a major factor in picking up that win, nearly scoring half of her team’s points in the 101-94 victory. She finished with a 45-point night on 15 made field goals and a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line.
That established a new record for the WNBA, as Wilson became the first-ever to have multiple 45-point games in the league’s history. It was also her fifth 40-plus points game in her career.
That broke a tie for the record for most 40-plus point games with still-active New York Liberty player Breanna Stewart and retired WNBA player Diana Taurasi. Wilson previously scored a league-best 53 points in 2023 and continues to establish herself as the league’s top player.
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The NBA celebrated Wilson’s significant scoring accomplishments, noting that it was her fifth 40-plus-point game, and also revealed that she’d moved to No. 20 on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list with her latest performance.
It goes to show the potential disparity between the 6-foot-4 center and the rest of the league. Wilson has been dominant throughout her career, claiming four league MVPs, three championships, and numerous other accolades.
Fans reacted to her latest performance, proclaiming that she is the standard and has set the bar high for others to aim for in future seasons.
“A’ja Wilson is building a resume where the records are starting to sound made up,” a fan commented about her latest feat.
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“She’s so clear of the rest of the league that it’s laughable,” a commenter wrote on X.
“At this point A’ja Wilson isn’t competing against the WNBA anymore, she’s competing against the history books,” someone wrote.
Others said, “best player in the league and 2nd place isnt remotely close to her,” and “She’s the Wilt of WNBA.”
“Think she’s going to try and one up Bam’s scoring record this year?” someone asked.
That would take a lot more, as her NBA boyfriend, Bam Adebayo, unloaded on the Washington Wizards this past season to score 81 points, the second-most ever in league history behind only Wilt Chamberlain.
A multiple-overtime WNBA game might allow Wilson to pull off that sort of scoring feat, but for now, it appears she’s continuing to put the league on notice about her abilities and the Aces as a threat to repeat as champs.
Her journey may be far from over, as this is her ninth year in the WNBA. The Aces are currently considered among the top contenders to win the championship, trailing only the New York Liberty in current sportsbook odds.
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For more about the WNBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.
