A’ja Wilson led the charge with 27 points and eight rebounds, while Jackie Young contributed 23 points as the Las Vegas Aces secured a 93-73 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Friday evening. Young also showcased her playmaking skills with eight assists and zero turnovers, with Chelsea Gray chipping in 11 points. This game marked the Aces’ first matchup without NaLyssa Smith, who sustained a season-ending left leg injury in their previous game against Toronto, which they won 88-78.
Isabelle Harrison led Toronto with 15 points, followed by Laura Juskaite with 14 points, Kia Nurse with 12 points, and Kiki Rice and Kiana Williams with 10 points each.
Following this win, the Aces (27-13) maintained their one-game lead for third place in the WNBA playoff race, ahead of Indiana (26-14), who defeated Connecticut 111-91.
A pivotal moment came when Young’s 3-pointer broke an 8-8 tie early in the game, propelling Las Vegas into the lead for the remainder of the match. The Aces ended the first quarter with a 27-17 lead, shooting 10 for 20 from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc. Toronto struggled with turnovers, committing nine in the first quarter alone.
Las Vegas continued their strong shooting performance in the second quarter, entering halftime with a commanding 56-39 lead. Despite a slight dip in their three-point shooting percentage in the quarter (1-for-6), the Aces maintained a 50% overall shooting accuracy (18-for-36). Toronto’s fouls proved costly, with 12 personal fouls in the first half, allowing the Aces to capitalize from the free-throw line, shooting 13 for 14.
Looking ahead, the Tempo will face the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, while the Aces are scheduled to play the Seattle Storm on Thursday, September 17.
