​LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson dominated in a dominant Las Vegas victory, finishing with 21 points and 15 rebounds in just 25 minutes as the Aces routed the Phoenix Mercury 106-58 on Saturday night, one of the most lopsided blowouts in WNBA history. Las Vegas jumped out to a commanding start and never looked back, eventually building a 54-point lead in the fourth quarter before coasting to the third-largest margin of victory on league record books. The only larger wins in league history are a 59-point thrashing by Minnesota over Indiana in 2017, a game highlighted by a 37-0 Lynx run elsewhere in that matchup. The Aces never managed a run longer than nine points in this particular contest, yet they still put together a staggering performance across the night.
Wilson, who has earned four Most Valuable Player awards, delivered a double-double by halftime and was a driving force throughout the game. Justine Pissott made an immediate impact in her WNBA debut, scoring 19 points after being signed off the Indiana development roster on Friday. The second-round pick from Vanderbilt went 7-for-8 from the field, including five 3-pointers, while playing all of the fourth quarter. She stood out as a strong rookie addition, showcasing her shooting range and efficiency in a game that quickly spiraled in favor of Las Vegas. Chelesa Gray and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus contributed 15 points apiece for the Aces, who totaled 30 assists on the night, with Gray accounting for 11 of them. NaLyssa Smith added 14 points for the victors. For Phoenix, Monique Akoa Makani led with 13 points and Lexi Held chipped in 11. DeWanna Bonner, who reached the milestone of surpassing 8,000 career points to become the third player in league history to do so, was limited to just two points in this game. The Mercury had previously topped the Aces by 30 in the season opener.
This marked a notable contrast from last year’s meeting, when Phoenix beat Las Vegas by 111-58, marking the second-largest margin in league history. The Aces responded by winning the next 16 games to close the regular season and eventually capturing their third WNBA title in four seasons. Las Vegas opened with a rush, scoring the first nine points and moving to a 29-9 lead after the first quarter. Wilson tallied nine points in that opening period as the Aces knocked down five 3-pointers, while Phoenix went 3-for-17 from the field with five turnovers. The onslaught continued into the second quarter, with Las Vegas leading by as many as 37 points before heading into halftime with a 57-22 advantage. The largest lead of the third quarter stood at 45 points as the Aces carried a 79-36 edge into the final period.
Looking ahead, the Mercury return to Minnesota on Tuesday for a game in which they’ll try to rebound, while the Aces will host Indiana on Sunday in a matchup that should feature continued strong play from their dynamic lineup.
AP WNBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball for additional updates and context on the league’s latest actions and standings.