With 29 points and 15 rebounds, A’ja Wilson notched her fifth straight double-double to open the season and the Las Vegas Aces captured their first road win of 2024, beating the Minnesota Lynx 80-66 Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
Wilson, who also had four blocks, two steals and three assists, shot 11 of 23 from the floor to lead the two-time defending champs. The Aces (4-1) also got 19 points and 10 assists from Jackie Young, and 10 points and six assists from Kelsey Plum.
Napheesa Collier powered the Lynx (4-2) with 18 points and 13 rebounds, marking her fourth double-double in six games. Collier, a UConn product playing in her sixth WNBA season, also grabbed her 1,000th career rebounds in the game.
Additionally for Minnesota, Kayla McBride added 11 points and Courtney Williams scored 12.
Las Vegas trailed only briefly in the first quarter after Williams sank a pullup jumper from 19 feet out with less than four minutes to play in the opening period. After an Aces timeout, Young responded with a pullup of her own, then assisted a Kate Martin 3-pointer.
Minnesota grabbed the lead once more in the second quarter, on a 3-pointer from Alanna Smith with 5:31 left in the frame, but the Aces punched back by ending the first half on a 13-3 run which was punctuated by a 3-pointer from Plum.
The Lynx trimmed the deficit to a point in the third quarter before falling behind by as much as 17 in the fourth.
Las Vegas outscored Minnesota 32-18 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 41-36.
For the Aces, Chelsea Gray remained sidelined with a lower left leg injury and Kierstan Bell remained out with a right leg injury.
The Aces are now 9-1 against the Lynx in their last 10 meetings. Las Vegas will host the Lynx on June 11.
–Field Level Media