A’ja Wilson had 25 points and 12 rebounds as the WNBA-leading Las Vegas Aces rolled to a 97-78 victory against the host Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.
Kelsey Plum had 21 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists, Chelsea Gray had 16 points and five assists, and Jackie Young had 14 points as the defending WNBA champion Aces (19-2) won their third consecutive game to improve their league-leading record.
Azura Stevens had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Nneka Ogwumike added 20 points and 11 boards to lead the short-handed Sparks (7-13), who lost their sixth game in a row.
Los Angeles played without Lexie Brown (non-COVID illness), Layshia Clarendon (foot), Chiney Ogwumike (foot) and Nia Clouden (knee).
The Sparks started the third quarter with a 10-1 run that pulled them within 55-41.
Plum then made two free throws and assisted on Kiah Stokes’ 3-pointer to give the Aces a 19-point lead.
Las Vegas increased the lead to 80-52 at the end of the third quarter and remained in command throughout the fourth.
Wilson scored four points during a 7-0 Aces run to begin the game. Ogwumike made a layup and a jumper for the Sparks’ first four points.
Wilson made a 3-pointer and Gray and Plum each added baskets to give Las Vegas a 16-7 lead.
The Aces closed the opening quarter on a 14-4 run to go into the second with a 32-15 advantage. Plum capped the outburst with a pair of free throws.
Stevens’ layup started the second-quarter scoring, but Las Vegas’ lead eventually ballooned to 26 in the period. The Sparks were held to 16 points and missed all five of their 3-point attempts in the frame.
The Aces went into the break up 54-31, led by Wilson’s 23 first-half points. Ogwumike paced Los Angeles with 14 points, but she was the Sparks’ only scorer in double figures.
–Field Level Media
