Saturday night was a statement game for the Las Vegas Aces, and they didn’t just beat the Phoenix Mercury. They obliterated them. The final score was 97-49, a 48-point win that stands as the largest margin of victory in franchise history.
From the opening tip, this thing was never close. The Aces jumped out to a 29-9 lead in the first quarter, and Phoenix just never had an answer. It wasn’t a game where the Mercury went cold in the fourth quarter and the Aces pulled away late. It was a beatdown from start to finish, the kind where you check the score at halftime and start wondering if the bench will play the whole fourth quarter.
A’ja Wilson picked up right where she left off
Back in the lineup after dealing with an injury, A’ja Wilson looked like she never missed a beat. She finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. She shot 8-of-16 from the field and hit all four of her free throws. It wasn’t a flashy stat line by her standards — it was just efficient, dominant, and exactly what you’d expect from the reigning MVP.
But she wasn’t alone. Five Aces players hit double figures. Justine Pissott dropped 19 points and grabbed two boards. Chelsea Gray put up a double-double with 15 points and 12 assists. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus added 15 points and seven rebounds, and NaLyssa Smith chipped in 14 points and three rebounds. The offense flowed. The defense suffocated. It was as complete a game as you’ll see in the WNBA this season.
Where the Aces stand now
With the win, Las Vegas improved to 17-6 on the season. That’s good enough for second place in the Western Conference, sitting behind the Minnesota Lynx but ahead of the Golden State Valkyries and the Dallas Wings. The Aces have won five of their last six games, and Wilson’s return has clearly steadied the ship.
Next up, they stay home to host the Indiana Fever on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET. If they keep playing like this, it’s hard to see anyone slowing them down.
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