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A'ja Wilson led a strong fourth-quarter finish by the Las Vegas Aces to pull away from the Minnesota Lynx 80-66 on Friday. The visiting Aces surged to the finish line behind Wilson’s seven-point, six-rebound and one-block line in the said period. Wilson nearly outscored the entire Lynx team who could manage just 10 final-quarter points in the loss.
The reigning WNBA Finals MVP’s box scores were impressive as usual. She again filled up the stat sheet with 29 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals. Wilson also emphatically won the head-to-head duel against Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who is having a career year.
A'ja Wilson’s latest eye-opening numbers were quickly recognized by the WNBA. The league’s social media team promptly posted her achievement on X, formerly Twitter:
Trending
“A'ja Wilson recorded her 5th consecutive 20+ PTS & 10+ REB double-double in the Aces win over the Lynx.
“This is now the longest streak in WNBA History”
Before Wilson reset the record, the holder was Sylvia Fowles who had four such games twice in 2011. Tina Charles reached the mark in 2021 while Glory Johnson got hers in 2017.
Wilson’s superb start to the season may be a reminder to everyone that she is arguably the best player in the WNBA. She won the 2022 MVP award but lost it the following year to Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty. When the Aces beat the Liberty in the 2023 finals, Wilson got some sort of redemption by winning the finals MVP.
This year, A'ja Wilson is stamping her class early and her incredible start may be a harbinger of ominous things to come for her opponents.
The WNBA’s future may have arrived but A'ja Wilson isn’t going anywhere
The 2024 WNBA Draft class is probably the most heralded in league history. Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Kamilia Cardoso and Angel Reese were among the highly-touted collegiate stars who wanted to turn pro. This year’s crop of rookies is putting the limelight on the league more than any group of first-time pro players has ever done.
While the buzz around the rookies is only going to get louder, A'ja Wilson is showing she and the Las Vegas Aces aren’t going anywhere. The hoopla around the rookies might continue to be a circus throughout the season but the biggest games are likely passing through Sin City. If Wilson stays healthy, the defending champs will be hard to dethrone.
On Saturday, Wilson’s Aces drubbed Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever 99-80. The two-time MVP also led her team to an 89-82 victory over Brink’s Sparks on May 19. She has yet to face the Chicago Sky but expect her to be just as driven to win against Reese’s team.
Wilson is only 27 years old and as long as she is healthy, the future of the WNBA has to wait a bit longer.
