Following a difficult mid-season stretch, the Las Vegas Aces are signaling a major turnaround, extending their winning streak to six games with a hard-fought 86-83 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.
Star center A’ja Wilson was once again the catalyst, delivering a dominant performance with 30 points and 16 rebounds. After the game, Wilson offered a uniquely candid analogy to describe her recent shift in mindset toward patience.
“I told myself after the All-Star break to just let the game come to me,” Wilson explained. “If I try to force it because I want this win so bad for my team, it’s like forcing a fart. All you get is s***. I’ve just really learned to be patient with myself, but also with my teammates.”
The comment prompted teammate Chelsea Gray to quip, “That’s gonna go viral.”
The performance was Wilson’s seventh 30-point game and 16th double-double of the season. The three-time MVP’s importance to the team’s success is clear, as Las Vegas has lost only two of the games in which she has recorded a double-double. Averaging 22.3 points and 10 rebounds per contest, she leads the Aces in most major categories, including steals, blocks, and minutes played.
While Wilson led the charge on Friday, she received crucial support from her teammates. Gray contributed 16 points and 9 assists, while Jackie Young added a versatile 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists to secure the win.
This recent success is a sharp reversal from the team’s earlier struggles. After an inconsistent 5-5 start, the two-time defending champions endured a particularly rough patch following the All-Star break, which included a 31-point loss and a historic 53-point defeat, both to the Minnesota Lynx.
Since that low point, the Aces have been undefeated. Their current streak includes impressive wins over top contenders like the New York Liberty and the Golden State Valkyries. Now at 20-14, Las Vegas sits fifth in the league standings and is solidly positioned for a playoff run. With a favorable upcoming schedule, the team appears poised to build momentum heading into the postseason.
