Washington, D.C. — A’ja Wilson continued her dominant season Saturday afternoon, dropping 36 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to lead the Las Vegas Aces to a 91-81 victory over the Washington Mystics—their 10th straight win as the playoff race intensifies.
With the win, Las Vegas (24-14) tightened its grip on a top playoff spot, now sitting just a half-game behind the Atlanta Dream for second place in the WNBA standings.
Wilson Takes Over, Aces Hit Their Stride
Wilson recorded her 19th double-double of the season and led the charge during a crucial second-quarter swing. After trailing by as many as 15 in the first quarter, the Aces flipped the script by outscoring Washington 25-13 in the second. Wilson poured in 11 points in the frame, helping Vegas head into halftime with a 44-39 lead.
In the second half, she kept her foot on the gas, adding 10 more points in the third quarter. The Aces pushed the lead to double digits and never looked back, extending their advantage to as many as 18 points in the final quarter.
Bench Spark & Team Efficiency
Dana Evans delivered a huge boost off the bench, scoring 21 points in just 23 minutes, including a sizzling 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. The Aces finished 10-of-20 from 3-point range and shot an efficient 52% from the field (35-of-65).
Ball movement was another key factor, with 27 assists on the night—Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young each dished out eight. Young also added 10 points.
Rookie Shines for Mystics
For Washington (16-21), rookie Kiki Iriafen continued to impress, finishing with 21 points and a career-best 15 rebounds, marking her 14th double-double of the season—just one shy of the franchise record. Shakira Austin chipped in with 18 points, and Sonia Citron added 13.
The Mystics came out strong, taking a 26-19 first-quarter lead, thanks largely to a 9-of-12 performance from the free-throw line. But the offense stalled in the second, where they managed just two field goals, despite hitting 7 more free throws.
What’s Next:
The Aces are heating up at just the right time. With momentum on their side, they’ll head to Chicago on Monday, followed by a critical showdown in Atlanta on Wednesday—a matchup with major playoff seeding implications.
