A'ja Wilson put on an absolute clinic Friday night, dropping a career-high 45 points to lead the Las Vegas Aces past a short-handed Connecticut Sun squad, 101-94. The two-time MVP was nearly perfect, shooting 15-for-18 from the field and a flawless 13-for-13 from the free-throw line. It was a performance that had fans on their feet and the Sun's defense scrambling all night.
Since a tough opening-night loss to the Phoenix Mercury, the Aces have been on a roll, winning three straight. Chennedy Carter has been a key part of that resurgence, adding 18 points in the win. Carter, who returned to the WNBA this season after a year playing overseas, has been nothing short of electric. Coming into Friday, she was averaging 19.7 points in just 21 minutes per game while shooting an incredible 73% from the field. Talk about making the most of your minutes.
The Sun, still searching for their first win at 0-4, were without star center Brittney Griner for the second straight game due to a left foot injury. They also missed Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who sat out with a right ankle injury suffered in Wednesday's blowout loss to these same Aces. Despite the absences, Connecticut showed plenty of fight. Trailing 69-56 late in the third quarter, Saniya Rivers caught fire, hitting back-to-back threes to spark a 14-3 run that pulled the Sun within 72-70. It was the closest they'd get all night.
Wilson, as she so often does, had the perfect response. After a timeout, she calmly drained a three-pointer, then followed it up with a three-point play on the next possession, pushing the lead back to 78-70. That sparked a decisive 16-4 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters, effectively sealing the win. The Aces' ability to answer every Sun rally was a testament to their championship poise.
There was a bright spot for Connecticut: Aaliyah Edwards made her season debut after missing the first three games with a left thigh injury. The rookie forward chipped in six points in 17 minutes, giving the Sun a glimpse of what she can bring. Hailey Van Lith led the Sun with 17 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Wilson's dominance.
Wilson was virtually unstoppable from the opening tip. She scored 19 points in the first half alone, making six of her seven shots—including a perfect 5-for-5 in the first quarter—to help the Aces take a 54-44 lead into the break.
The Aces now head to Atlanta to wrap up their four-game road trip on Sunday, looking to keep their winning streak alive. For the Sun, the search for that first win continues, but with players like Edwards returning to the lineup, there's hope on the horizon.