A’ja Wilson nets buzzer-beating basket to lift Aces past Sky

A’ja Wilson made a layup at the buzzer to cap a double-double effort for the Las Vegas Aces, who recorded a 77-75 victory over the host Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon.

Wilson collected 20 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots to help the Aces (18-11) snap a two-game losing skid.

Chennedy Carter had tied the game at 75-75 with one second to play. She pulled up for a long 3-pointer after a crossover move before Wilson delivered in crunch time.

Kelsey Plum scored 18 points and Megan Gustafson added 13 to provide a much-needed jolt in the third quarter. Gustafson hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Las Vegas a 40-34 lead with 7:21 to play.

Angel Reese made league history in defeat, recording her third consecutive game with at least 20 rebounds. She finished with 22 to go along with 11 points, giving her 22 double-doubles on the season.

Carter led the Sky with 25 points and pulled Chicago within 75-72 with 37.5 seconds left. Lindsay Allen scored 16 points and Michaela Onyenwere finished with 15.

The reigning two-time WNBA champion Aces opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run ignited by Chelsea Gray’s 3-pointer that put her team up 55-52. Las Vegas held on from there to hand the Sky (11-18) their third consecutive loss. Gray scored 11.

The Aces were 0-for-10 from long range before Gustafson’s back-to-back 3-pointers and ended up with six, including one by Plum at the 4:36 mark of the fourth to give Las Vegas its biggest lead at 73-60.

Las Vegas started 0-for-7 from the floor but got a boost from Wilson, who scored the team’s first eight points, including two off a jumper near the free-throw line that sliced the Sky lead to 9-8 at the 4:48 mark.

Onyenwere carried the Sky in the opening quarter, scoring eight points, three coming off a shot from beyond the arc that stretched Chicago’s advantage to 17-10 with 1:10 remaining.

–Field Level Media