The Las Vegas Aces are putting the WNBA on the map with their championship-caliber season. Start players A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are propelling the franchise to a new level. Despite missing their defensive anchor, Candace Parker, for a significant part of the season, they are dominant in 2023. In a recent game against the Chicago Sky, they secured a comeback 94-87 victory on the road. The feat displayed their on-court prowess and created an all-time WNBA record.
The game marked Aces’ 30th win of the season, along with a new WNBA record for most wins in a single season. They surpassed the 29-win record set by the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. Even though one can argue that the extended WNBA season paved the way for their historic feat, the Aces achieved the milestone in 34 games, matching the number of Mercury’s checkpoints in 2014.
A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum enjoy a memorable day out
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The Aces’ remarkable accomplishment coincided with their star player Kelsey Plum’s birthday. However, when revisiting the game, Kelsey was not having a great day. Plum struggled with a 0-for-5 record from the floor at the half. However, she turned the tide in the second half to contribute significantly to the Aces’ historic victory. In the third quarter, she posted an impressive 14 points, becoming a critical factor in creating the monumental moment.
After her standout performance on her special day, Plum naturally embraced the celebratory spirit. Plum and the team now had two occasions to cheer up for. As the day progressed, Wilson took to her Instagram story to share a snapshot of the dynamic duo. They seemed to dwell in the rejoicing atmosphere, commemorating the birthday girl’s and team’s feat.
Alongside Plumlee, A’ja Wilson made substantial contributions to the team’s performance. At halftime, the Aces found their trailing factored in the rebounding department. None of the Aces players secured more than four rebounds individually.
However, A’ja Wilson turned the tide in the second half. She finished the game with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, showcasing her impactful presence on the court.
A’ja sets the WNBA record for most points scored
A mere game before the Aces’ historic achievement, A’ja Wilson carved out a remarkable milestone of her own. During their match against the Atlanta Dream, the 27-year-old etched her name in the WNBA’s annals by tying the single-game scoring record. In a league where only three players have breached the 50-point threshold, Wilson achieved the 53-point mark.
She joined the exclusive ranks of Liz Cambage and Riquna Williams. Furthermore, the awe-inspiring victory allowed the Aces to equal the season win record at that time. Adding intrigue to the narrative, A’ja achieved this feat while sporting Nike’s LeBron 20 shoes. LeBron James quickly noticed the detail and took it to Twitter to congratulate Wilson.
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Must be the 👟!!! Nah it’s definitely her game the whole way!! They do look good on her though! GO THE HELL OFF THEN SIS!!!!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 @_ajawilson22 https://t.co/IA7UdXAVIW
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 23, 2023
Furthermore, Wilson emerged as the second player in WNBA history to net 20 free throws in a single game. Notably, her prior career high had been 40 points, which she achieved earlier in the same month.
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Aces seem to be the Golden State Warriors of the WNBA. With this pace and players of humongous caliber, can they overtake the 2016 Warriors by lifting the title alongside the best league record?