A'ja Wilson put up 29 points while Jackie Young scored a career-high 35 as the Las Vegas Aces dismantled the Seattle Storm 114-77 on Thursday. Twenty-two of those came in the first quarter alone, tying the WNBA single-quarter scoring record shared by vets Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd, and Brittney Sykes.
Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson Lead Scoring in Aces vs Storm Blowout
Fresh off a breakout FIBA World Cup run, Young went 8-of-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range in that frame. Her output eventually built a lead Seattle just couldn't cut into.
A'ja Wilson pitched in 29 points, and the two combined to put the game out of reach before halftime. It marked Las Vegas's highest-scoring output since the franchise-record 118 against Atlanta in July 2021. And Wilson credited Young for most of it.
"She's just playing out of her mind," the four-time MVP said after the game. "This is the Jackie that I've seen in the gym countless of times when no one's watching. This is the Jackie that has worked her butt off to prove why she's… one of the best two-way guards in this league."
On Seattle's side, Flau'jae Johnson led with 25 points, while Natisha Hiedeman added 12 points and seven assists. Despite their effort, the Storm (8-33) have dropped five of their last six games. They now own the worst record in the league.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces extending their winning streak to four. At 28-13, they remain just slightly behind second-place Golden State as the regular season winds down.
The Las Vegas Aces leaned on A'ja Wilson's 27-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist performance to beat the Toronto Tempo 88-78 on Saturday in Vancouver.
A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young Establish Control Early in Aces vs Tempo
Wilson scored nine in the opening quarter, with Jackie Young adding 21 points as the Aces pulled within reach of second-place Golden State at 26-13. Together, the pair accounted for more than half of Las Vegas's scoring output.
Still, the Tempo kept things competitive despite missing five players. Marina Mabrey sat out with an adductor injury that's being evaluated week to week. Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow went down in Friday's win over Portland, ending both of their seasons. Nyara Sabally and Maria Conde also sat out with calf injuries.
Toronto Tempo Rely on Kia Nurse, Kiki Rice Amid Mounting Injuries
In their stead, Kia Nurse poured in 19 points to lead Toronto. Kiki Rice and Temi Fagbenle also added 14 and 13, respectively. A late 6-0 run trimmed a 10-point deficit to four by halftime, but the Aces pulled away in the third quarter and never looked back.
The loss dropped the Tempo to 11-26, just two days after they had snapped a 12-game losing streak against Portland.
Jackie Young put up 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to lead the Las Vegas Aces past the Connecticut Sun 101-78 on Thursday night. The win snapped a two-game skid and improved the Aces' WNBA record to 25-13 with six regular-season games left.
Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson's 3rd Quarter Surge Powers Aces Lead
The game was tied at the break, but the second half belonged entirely to Las Vegas. The Aces combined for 16 consecutive points in the third quarter, turning a one-point edge into a runaway lead. By the start of the fourth, the Aces were up 22, and Young was already resting on the bench.
A'ja Wilson added 20 points in her franchise-record 302nd game. Off the bench, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus posted a season-best 18 points and nine rebounds, while Las Vegas outrebounded Connecticut 40-23 overall. The Aces also converted 19 Sun turnovers into 28 points, sealing the blowout.
Thursday's Sun vs Aces matchup was the last regular-season meeting between the two clubs before Connecticut relocates to Houston in 2027. For the Sun, now 9-26, it extended a difficult run marked by their eighth loss in 10 games.
Where to Watch the Aces WNBA Game This Weekend
Next up for Las Vegas is a trip to Toronto to face the Tempo on Sunday at 7 PM ET on WNBA League Pass. The Sun, meanwhile, travel to the LA Sparks on Saturday at 9 PM ET on Prime.
The Las Vegas Aces earned their eighth consecutive playoff berth with a win against the Washington Mystics on Thursday night. Shakira Austin led the Mystics with 29 points, but Jackie Young's season-high 32 points pushed the Aces past Washington 83-76 in the Mystics vs Aces rematch at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Jackie Young Powers Aces Offense
Young decided the fourth quarter, scoring 12 straight points before hitting a 3-pointer with 4:17 left for a 74-64 lead. She shot 71.4% overall, 10-of-14 from the field, 5-of-8 from deep, and 7-of-8 at the line.
Teammate A'ja Wilson joined her on the scoreboard, logging 15 points, six rebounds, and two blocks while Jewell Loyd pitched in 13 off the bench.
Beyond Austin's effort, the Mystics relied on guard Sonia Citron who notched 17 points and eight assists for Washington. But foul trouble plagued the young WNBA side with Kiki Iriafen picking up her fifth with 1:45 left in the third to finish with five points in 27 minutes.
Las Vegas Locks Up Postseason Berth in Mystics vs Aces Rematch
The win moved the Aces to 24-11, putting them just one spot below the second-placed Golden State Valkyries while the Mystics suffered their second straight loss after seven wins in a row. Las Vegas joins Minnesota as the only teams to lock up a 2026 playoff spot so far.
Per ESPN Research, Becky Hammon is now the fifth head coach in WNBA history to reach the playoffs in each of her first five seasons.
The Aces next face top-ranked Minnesota Lynx on Saturday at 8 PM ET on CBS. The Mystics, meanwhile, take on the LA Sparks, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
A’ja Wilson showed out last night, as the reigning MVP posted 26 points and 13 rebounds to lift No. 3 Las Vegas over No. 6 Washington 86-76 — ending the Mystics’ league-high seven-game winning streak.
It marked Wilson’s 107th career 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, just two away from tying legend Tina Charles’s all-time record.
Jackie Young tallied 25 points and eight assists, passing Sheryl Swoopes to become the seventh-fastest WNBA player to reach 4,000 points and 1,000 assists.
Washington pulled within six in the third behind shooters Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin, but failed to overcome Wilson’s nine-point fourth-quarter burst.
Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored her first points in a Mystics uniform, giving her new team a spark of hope ahead of Thursday’s rematch in Las Vegas.
“She’s got a really good feel for the game — some crafty things she was doing on offense and defense that showed her 10-plus years of experience,” coach Sydney Johnson said of Laney-Hamilton.
“We’ll get back in the gym with her tomorrow and try to build on a nice start.”
The two sides run it back tomorrow at 10 PM ET (Prime).
A WNBA fan ejection incident interrupted the Aces vs Fever matchup in Indianapolis on Thursday night. Two men seated near the Aces bench were escorted out after standout guard Jackie Young flagged them to officials.
Las Vegas went on to win 86-84 in overtime.
WNBA Fan Ejection Steals Spotlight During Fever vs Aces Showdown
The stoppage came with 4:38 left in the third quarter. Play paused for several minutes while security worked through the sideline. A woman in the front row was briefly walked out then returned to her seat. Shortly afterwards, two men near her were removed.
Young addressed the interaction after the Las Vegas win. "He was just chirping all game. I let him have it, and then he just made one that was a little bit too far," she told reporters. She declined to repeat the specific comment the fan made.
An Aces spokesperson said the fans had directed inappropriate remarks at Young. Still, the Fever later stated that security found no Code of Conduct violation, and that the fan chose to leave on his own.
On the court, A'ja Wilson posted 26 points and 13 rebounds. Young added 22, including a franchise-record 15 straight across halves. Chelsea Gray subsequently hit two clutch 3-pointers to force overtime and, later, win the game.
Monday night's Aces vs Dream matchup turned into a showcase for Jackie Young.
The guard posted 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists for her third career triple-double, powering Las Vegas to a 109-87 rout of the Atlanta Dream. It was also a franchise first, as no Aces player had ever recorded a 25-point triple-double before Monday.
But A'ja Wilson matched Young's energy on both ends.
A'ja Wilson Makes WNBA History as Las Vegas Aces Beat Atlanta Dream
She poured in 23 points and swatted her 587th career shot, passing Lauren Jackson for sixth on the WNBA's all-time blocks list.
Chelsea Gray added 17 points and six assists, and NaLyssa Smith finished with 18 points as the Aces (21-9) pulled away by as many as 28.
On Atlanta's side, Angel Reese kept up her breakout pace. She logged 23 points and 16 rebounds for her 20th double-double of the season. Rhyne Howard also contributed 19 points in the loss.
But the Dream (18-11) couldn't overcome a lopsided second half, and their five-game run of wins came to an end.
Las Vegas next takes on the Indiana Fever on Thursday, 7 PM ET on Prime Video. Atlanta, meanwhile, faces the Phoenix Mercury Wednesday at 7 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
A'ja Wilson returned to the court Thursday night and led the Las Vegas Aces past the expansion Portland Fire, 88-80. The center had been sidelined with an ankle injury, missing three consecutive games. But in the Aces vs Fire road matchup at the Moda Center, she controlled the game from start to finish.
A'ja Wilson Dominates in Aces vs Fire Return
Wilson posted a game-high 32 points and 10 rebounds in her return. She also added three assists, two blocks, and two steals for a complete stat line on both ends of the floor.
Jackie Young was just as critical for the Aces WNBA champion squad, recording 19 points and a game-high 11 assists for a double-double. Together, the pair made sure Portland never held a lead.
On the defensive end, Las Vegas was just as sharp.
How Did the Aces Defense Hold Portland & Carla Leite in Check?
The Aces forced 13 steals and held the Fire to 34.4% shooting from beyond the arc. Carla Leite paced Portland with 13 points but shot just 2-for-6 from the floor. The expansion team hung around in stretches but never cut the deficit enough to seriously threaten the visiting side.
With A'ja Wilson healthy and back in the lineup, the Aces have the two-way presence they need heading deeper into the season.
They'll next face the Phoenix Mercury tomorrow at 6 PM ET, live on Peacock.
Las Vegas cruised past Golden State 92-73 in Sunday's Valkyries vs Aces clash, leaning on a 21-point performance from Jackie Young.
Young shot 9-for-12 from the field, made three 3-pointers, and didn't commit a turnover in the matchup. She also dished out five assists, passing Becky Hammon for second on the Aces' all-time assists list with 1,136. Only Chelsea "Point Gawd" Gray sits ahead, with Gray tallying nine more assists Sunday to push her career total to 1,179.
A'ja Wilson contributed 19 points and nine rebounds for the Aces, while Gray added 15 points alongside her nine assists. NaLyssa Smith and reserve Jewell Loyd each chipped in 14 points to bolster a balanced offensive attack.
The 12-4 Aces have now won eight of their last nine games. Sunday's victory continued a stretch of dominance that has Las Vegas firmly entrenched among the WNBA's elite.
Cecilia Zandalasini led the Golden State Valkyries with 12 points, but cold shooting doomed the visitors. The Valkyries missed 19 of their first 20 attempts from beyond the arc, subsequently falling to 10-7 on the season.
The Aces made history on Wednesday, signing four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson to the largest supermax deal on record— worth some $5 million over three years.
Las Vegas is reportedly set to allot Wilson 20% of its $7 million salary cap over the contract’s lifetime, with future flexibility should the cap soften.
“A’ja is truly one of one, who has led this franchise to where it is today,” Aces president and GM Nikki Fargas said in a team statement.
“Not only has she catapulted into the history books and surpassed almost every record in existence, but she does so with the utmost confidence, authenticity and grace. We look forward to continuing to see her thrive in an Aces uniform.”
“YKWTFGO,” Wilson said in a team statement, quoting rapper Stunna Girl as as she gears up to lead the reigning WNBA champion into 2026.
Las Vegas Aces Build Roster Around Re-Signed Star A'ja Wilson
Las Vegas has officially secured its veteran core, after re-signing guards Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Jewell Loyd.
The Aces can now focus on roster support, welcoming back 2025 champs NaLyssa Smith, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Kierstan Bell, and Dana Evans while bringing on veteran free agents Stephanie Talbot and Brianna Turner.
The Aces also signed former Chicago guard Chennedy Carter to a training camp contract, after reported locker room issues saw the Sky fail to re-sign the 27-year-old in 2025.