05/16/26 09:55:00
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05/15 22:01 CDT A'ja Wilson has an efficient 45-point masterpiece, her
WNBA-record 5th game with 40 or more
A'ja Wilson has an efficient 45-point masterpiece, her WNBA-record 5th game
with 40 or more
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) --- A'ja Wilson had a historic night, putting on an
offensive display while scoring from nearly everywhere on the court.
The four-time WNBA MVP scored 45 points to help the Las Vegas Aces beat the
Connecticut Sun 101-94 on Friday night. Wilson was an incredibly efficient 15
for 18 from the field, hitting both of her 3-point attempts. She also made all
13 of her free throws.
"Finding shots in our system and letting the flow of the game take over,"
Wilson said. "That's big to me. I want to be efficient. It's beautiful to rack
up all these points, but to be efficient, that's what is key."
It was the fifth time she has scored over 40 points --- a WNBA record, breaking
a tie with Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi. Her career high is 53 on Aug. 22,
2023 against Atlanta.
Wilson's boyfriend, Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat, was at the game on Friday,
just as she attended his 83-point effort in March.
"She was unbelievable," Aces coach Becky Hammon said. "Really happy with the
free throws. The 3s, she just continued to sprinkle those in. She got a lot of
early touches."
When Connecticut cut a 13-point deficit to 72-70 late in the third quarter,
Wilson hit a 3-pointer out of a timeout and then followed it up with a
three-point play, igniting a 16-4 run that put the game away.
"It wasn't really designed to be like that," Wilson said of her 3. "I was
trying to take what the defense was giving me. (Raegan) Beers was playing a
little bit off, so why not?"
Wilson has had a lot of big moments at Mohegan Sun Arena. This was potentially
her last game there, with the Sun set to move to Houston next season.
"This building has been special to me for a while," Wilson said. "Got my first
WNBA point in this building and championship in this building. It's fun coming
here. ... Going to miss this place."
Chelsea Gray has had a front-row seat to Wilson's amazing play over the last
five seasons.
"You can't get bored with watching greatness," the Aces' star point guard said.
"I'm around it all the time, but I'm surprised every day. I never want to get
to the spot where I'm comfortable, like, yeah, that's unheard of."
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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