LAS VEGAS (AP) There was only one way Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon could describe reigning WNBA MVP Aja Wilson becoming the first player in league history to register a 30-20 double-double.
Its just Aja being Aja, she said.
She shook her head in awe.
She probably could have had one of these in the past, Hammon added. I never let her really go to the offensive glass this year, where weve been emphasizing that more.
Wilson finished with 32 points on 13-of-25 shooting to go along with her second-career 20-rebound night, leading the Aces to a 94-86 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday night. It was her 14th double-double of the season.
Its huge, said Wilson, who registered her 30th career 30-point game and sixth this season. I didnt even know, as many greats as we have in this league, its kind of a shocker that its just now happening. Its a blessing. I love what I do. I love what I do. I love it so much, so anytime that I can come out and just play basketball the way that I love it, and the team, and were all getting involved Im happy with that.
Teammate Jackie Young said Wilson never ceases to amaze.
Every night she shows up, and I think thats why shes so great at what she does, Young said. Shes a super hard worker, so its cool to see her hard work pay off. At the same time, theyre bringing double teams to her, triple teams to her, and shes having to navigate that and play out of it. Shes still able to put up insane numbers every night.
Wilson, who this season became the fastest and second-youngest player to score 5,000 career points, ranks first for 30-point games since entering the league in 2018.
Its pretty cool to have my name in the record books when it comes to that, said Wilson, who turned 29 on Friday. Im pretty sure theres going to be a lot following up. So yeah, its pretty cool to kind of be the first one.
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