Las Vegas Aces Take Care Of Business Against Dallas, 91-84, In WNBA Semis Game 2 After A’ja Wilson Gets Snubbed For WNBA MVP
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Story by Cassandra Cousineau Photos by RJ Forbus
A’ja Wilson gave a clap, the big crowd waved the white towels, and the Las Vegas Aces walked off the court at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Ultra Arena Tuesday night only one game from returning to the WNBA Finals.
Led by Wilson’s 30 points, the Aces took care of business, 91-84, against the upstart Dallas Wings in Game 2 of the WNBA Semis. Game 3 of the Best-of-5 series will be in Dallas Friday.
After the WNBA said Wilson finished third in the MVP voting, last year’s MVP went out and scored 16 points in the first half as the Aces took a 44-37 lead over the Dallas Wings at halftime.
By the end of the third quarter, the Aces led, 70-57, with Wilson pouring in 24 points.
She was intense all game long before an announced crowd of 9,286.
“It’s just a matter of me playing basketball,” said Wilson, who finished third in the MVP voting behind New York’s Breanna Stewart and Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas.
Aces coach Becky Hammon didn’t hold back when asked about Wilson being snubbed for the league’s MVP award.
“She’s humble. A’ja’s not going to say it, but I will. I was heated last night when I got word. A’ja got robbed and there’s no other way to put it,” Hammon said.
“She’s the best two-way player in the league, and I love what Brianna Stewart and Alycia Thomas bring to the game,” the Aces coach said. “To look at what she did this season and have her finish third in the MVP voting is absolutely ridiculous.”
Wilson proved Hammon’s point by scoring at least 30 points in her last three playoff games. No player has done that in WNBA history.
Wilson was indeed humble, deferring to the team and what the game means to the Aces.
“I’m locked in. This is a close out game, and I need my team to feel that intensity. We have a job to do, and nothing else matters right now,” Wilson said.
The Wings tied the game at 49 in the third quarter.
Then the Aces said enough is enough and stretched a lead to double digits later in the quarter.
The Wings also play with the Aces’ up-pace temp game. They’re just not as good as the Aces at that style of play, thus the Aces winning the first two games of the series.
