WNBA recap: A’ja Wilson scores 30 points as Las Vegas Aces hand Chicago Sky seventh straight loss

CNN
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A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray both recorded double-doubles as the Las Vegas Aces crushed the Chicago Sky 90-71 on Tuesday for their seventh straight WNBA loss.

Wilson’s run continued with 30 points at T-Mobile Arena — her third 30+ game in the last four games — to go along with 14 rebounds and two steals, while Gray finished the night with 13 points, 10 assists and three steals for the two-time defending champions.

Jackie Young and Tiffany Hayes also scored in double figures to help the Aces to a third straight win, which puts them at 21-12 on the season.

The result, combined with the Phoenix Mercury’s 74-66 win over the Atlanta Dream, secured the Mercury and Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever a spot in the WNBA playoffs.

“We love being together, but it’s not as much fun when you’re not winning basketball games and having fun doing it on and off the court,” Gray told reporters. “We’re starting to feel like we have that intensity on the court, so we can enjoy those moments.”

According to the AP, more than 18,000 fans watched Tuesday’s game, which was moved from the Aces’ usual home at Mandalay Bay to T-Mobile Arena. The attendance was the second-highest for a home game in franchise history.

With a 13-point streak early in the second quarter, the Aces took a big lead, which grew to 16 points by the end of the first half.

Sky, desperate to stop a winless streak to make the playoffs, closed the gap to 10 points in the fourth inning, but Wilson made sure the Aces’ lead remained intact as she scored 15 of her 30 points in the final period.

Michaela Onyenwere had 15 points for Chicago, while Angel Reese had 12 points and 16 rebounds. The team’s winless streak dates back to Aug. 17, with a home game against the struggling Los Angeles Sparks (7-25) on Friday.

Elsewhere, Phoenix achieved a 14^and postseason appearances in the last 16 seasons with a win against the Dream, who have the same 11-22 record as the Sky.

Kahleah Copper scored a team-high 28 points, while Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner both made key three-pointers to hold off a third-quarter comeback attempt by Atlanta and advance the Mercury to the playoffs.

Storm in Seattle 71-64 Connecticut Sun

Washington Mystics 90-86 Dallas Wings

Chicago Sky 71-90 Las Vegas Aces

Atlanta Dream 66-74 Phoenix Mercury