A’ja Wilson delivered a dominant playoff performance just hours after earning another major individual honor.
The Las Vegas Aces star scored 38 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked four shots Sunday as the defending champions defeated the Indiana Fever 102-85 in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff series.
Wilson shot 15 of 19 from the field while matching her career high for points in a postseason game. Her performance came after she was named the Associated Press WNBA Player of the Year for the third straight year.
The achievement makes Wilson the first player to win the AP award three consecutive times. She then followed the honor with a performance that showed why she remains one of the league’s biggest stars.
A’ja Wilson Leads Aces With 38 Points in Game 1
Wilson set the tone from the opening minutes and finished the first half with 22 points. She made nine of her first 11 shots and added six rebounds and three blocks before halftime.
The Aces entered halftime with a 62-47 lead. They continued to control the game after the break and eventually stretched their advantage to 27 points.
Aces coach Becky Hammon praised Wilson’s ability to understand the importance of the playoff moment.
“She understands the stakes fully,” Hammon said. “She was a clinic tonight.”
The win gives Las Vegas a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three first-round series. The Fever will host Game 2 on Tuesday, with a win needed to keep their season alive.
Wilson Earns Third Straight AP WNBA Player of the Year Award
Earlier Sunday, Wilson added another major achievement to her growing career. The Associated Press named her its WNBA Player of the Year for a third consecutive season.
That made Wilson the first player to win the AP honor three years in a row. She has continued to build her reputation as one of the league’s most productive players while leading the Aces through another championship campaign.
The timing made her Game 1 performance even more notable. Wilson received the individual award during the same day she helped her team take an important step toward another championship.
Her 38 points also matched her personal career postseason high. She did so while shooting an efficient 15 of 19 from the field.
A’ja Wilson Shows Why Her Greatness Matters to Black Women in Sports
Wilson’s performance also adds to the growing visibility of Black women at the highest levels of professional sports. She has become one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball while continuing to produce at an elite level on the court.
Her teammate Chelsea Gray emphasized the importance of appreciating Wilson while she is still playing.
“You can’t wait till a person retires to appreciate greatness,” Gray said. “You’ve got to appreciate it while it’s happening.”
Wilson’s latest achievement comes during another strong postseason run for the Aces. Las Vegas has won three of the past four WNBA championships and entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed.
The team’s current run also shows how individual excellence can fit into a larger championship effort. Wilson led the way Sunday, but the Aces received important contributions across the roster.
Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray Help Aces Control the Game
Jackie Young finished with 21 points and 10 assists, giving Las Vegas another major scoring and playmaking option. Gray added 14 points and eight assists, while Jewell Loyd contributed 10 points.
Gray also moved into second place on the WNBA’s career playoff assists list. She reached 397 postseason assists, passing Courtney Vandersloot’s previous total of 390.
Those contributions helped the Aces punish Indiana’s mistakes. Las Vegas scored 28 points off the Fever’s 17 turnovers, creating several opportunities to extend its lead.
Indiana struggled to find consistent offense as the game progressed. Caitlin Clark finished with 15 points and 10 assists, while Kelsey Mitchell scored 12 points on 4-of-16 shooting.
Caitlin Clark and Fever Face a Must-Win Game 2
Aliyah Boston led Indiana with 18 points and eight rebounds despite dealing with a lower-leg injury. However, the Fever could not match the Aces’ intensity or efficiency.
Clark acknowledged that Indiana’s own mistakes played a major role in the loss. She gave the team’s defensive effort an “F” and said the Fever struggled to create good offensive opportunities.
“I thought our actions were sloppy,” Clark said. “I thought what we were running wasn’t great and nobody got an easier open look.”
Fever coach Stephanie White also credited Las Vegas for responding strongly to the playoff moment. She said the defending champions understood the intensity required once the postseason began.
Indiana now returns home for Game 2. A Fever victory would force a deciding Game 3 back in Las Vegas, while another Aces win would send the defending champions into the semifinals.
A’ja Wilson and the Aces Turn Their Focus to the Next Game
Despite her huge night, Wilson kept her focus on the team’s work rather than the individual attention surrounding her latest award.
“I think we just showed up to work, and that’s what we need to do moving forward,” Wilson said.
That approach will matter as Las Vegas tries to continue its championship defense. The Aces have already shown that they can rely on Wilson for major performances when the stakes rise.
For Wilson, Sunday offered a powerful combination of individual recognition and postseason production. She collected her third straight AP WNBA Player of the Year award and then helped the Aces take control of their playoff series.
The next test comes Tuesday. Indiana will try to extend its season, while Wilson and the Aces will look to move one step closer to another WNBA semifinal appearance.
