May 28, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces forward Aja Wilson (22 years old) will compete against Minnesota Lynx plays the first quarter. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports Aja Wilson scored a game-high 41 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Las Vegas Aces to a 97-79 victory over the host Phoenix Mercury on Sunday afternoon.
Wilson, a leading candidate for WNBA MVP, hit 16 of 23 shots. Kelsey Plum scored 16 points and Jackie Young added 11 points and tied an Aces record with 14 assists.
Las Vegas (20-12) dominated from the start, quickly building a double-digit lead and never letting the Mercury get back into the game. The Aces have already clinched a playoff spot.
The Mercury (16-17) lost its third straight game but remains in contention for the playoffs. Brittney Griner scored 24 points to lead Phoenix, which trailed 29-10 after the first quarter.
Sophie Cunningham added 16 points and Kahleah Copper added 15 points.
Wilson scored 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first half alone, and the Aces led by 34 points in the second quarter. With 2:31 left in the first half, Wilson briefly took a step back and gave Las Vegas a 50-16 lead, the Aces' largest lead of the day.
Aces guard Chelsea Gray lost her start with a back injury due to an offensive foul on Phoenix's Kahleah Copper with 8:36 left in the second quarter. Gray took a hard fall during the game and went to the locker room.
Frustration boiled over as the Aces took full control and sustained the Mercury. Phoenix guards Natasha Crowder and Diana Taurasi received technical fouls and will have to miss the Mercury's next game due to the accumulation of such violations (seven each) unless these The penalty was subsequently revoked.
Cooper was also whistled for a technical foul, which she received in the third quarter. The Mercury lead the WNBA in technical fouls this season with 33.
Las Vegas led by 29 points in the third quarter before the Mercury went on offense to extend their lead. Cunningham stole the ball and hit a three-pointer in transition. With 3 minutes and 17 seconds left in the game, the Mercury trailed 69-52.
Phoenix outscored Las Vegas 31-24 in the third quarter but was unable to recover in the fourth quarter.
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