A’ja Wilson ties record for most points in WNBA
Fred Jeter | 8/31/2023, 6 p.m.
The Las Vegas Aces might be the surest bet in the city known as “The Gambling Capital of the World.”
A’ja Wilson is a towering reason why.
The 6-foot-4 Wilson tied the WNBA record for most points in a game by tossing in 53 Aug. 22 in a 112-100 win in Atlanta over the Dream.
“My teammates found me my spots and I was just really aggressive,” she said.
Wilson is the hottest player on the hottest team in the league. The defending champion Aces started this week with a WNBA best 30-4 record.
In torching the nets in Atlanta, Wilson hit 20 of 23 field goals from two-point range, one-of-one from outside the arc and 20 of 21 free throws.
She also snared seven rebounds and blocked four shots, all in just 33 minutes of the 40-minute contest.
Wilson’s 53 ties the record set by 6-foot- 9 Liz Cambage in 2018. Cambage played 37 minutes in that game.
The only other 50-something game in WNBA annals was by Riquna Williams, who had 51 in 2013.
Fans could see this coming. Wilson, named after the Steely Dan song “Aja,” had scored 40 the week before in a victory over Washington.
On the season, she averages 22.3 points (third in the league), 9.5 rebounds (second) and 2.1 blocks (first).
The former South Carolina All-Amer- ican seems well on her way for a second straight MVP title while the Aces are heavily favored to claim the league title again.
There are no “sure things” in Vegas, but this might be close.
