A’ja Wilson became the WNBA’s single-season scoring leader, finishing with 27 points and 12 rebounds to help the Las Vegas Aces defeat the Indiana Fever 86-75 on Wednesday night. This victory was their 14th consecutive win against the Fever.
Wilson broke Jewell Loyd’s record of 939 points with a jumper from the free-throw line with 26.4 seconds remaining in the first half. Wilson surpassed Loyd’s record in just 35 games, compared to Loyd’s 38 games. Wilson’s previous highest was 912 points, achieved in 40 games last season.
Wilson ended the game with 956 points for the season and might be the first player ever to reach 1,000 points in a single year.
When Indiana closed the gap to 72-66, Wilson scored eight consecutive points for Las Vegas in just two minutes, giving them an 80-71 lead with 4:04 remaining. The Aces did not score again until Wilson completed a three-point play with 1:04 left.
Indiana had a chance to get closer at 80-76, but Caitlin Clark missed a wide-open 3-pointer.
Wilson then assisted Alysha Clark with a 3-pointer from the corner with 34.2 seconds remaining and secured the win with a steal.
Las Vegas is the only team Indiana has not defeated this season. The Fever will have another chance to face the Aces when they meet again on Friday.
Alysha Clark scored 14 points, Tiffany Hayes added 12 points, and Chelsea Gray had 11 points for Las Vegas (23-13).
Caitlin Clark struggled with her 3-point shooting, making only 1 of 10 attempts, but finished with 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting for Indiana (19-18). Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 24 points, marking her third consecutive game with over 20 points.
Wilson, who was 11 points away from breaking Loyd’s record, scored 10 points in the first quarter, and Hayes added eight points as Las Vegas led 20-18.
