After one of the most productive games in WNBA history, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson will lead the resurgent Las Vegas Aces into a home matchup against the New York Liberty on Wednesday.
Wilson is coming off a 32-point, 20-rebound performance on Sunday at home against the Connecticut Sun that extended the Aces’ season-best winning streak to four games. It was the first 30-20 game ever in the WNBA.
Jackie Young added 21 points for Las Vegas (18-14), which is 10-5 at home this season and in fifth place in the overall standings.
“Every night, she shows up,” Young said of Wilson, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “She’s so great at what she does. She shows up at both ends for us. Having 32 and 20 is crazy.”
Wilson’s performance helped overcome a tepid defensive performance in the first quarter when the Sun scored 31 points.
The Liberty (21-11) will be playing on consecutive nights for the second time this season. They earned a 105-97 victory on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday to open a three-game road trip that ends Saturday afternoon with a visit to the first-place Minnesota Lynx.
New York shot 55.9 percent from the field Tuesday and went 14-for-28 from 3-point range in the Liberty’s highest scoring game of the season. Emma Meesseman recorded season highs in points (24) and rebounds (nine), while Jonquel Jones added 21 points with 11 boards.
Meesseman was playing in just her fifth game of the season after returning to the WNBA following a successful stint in Europe.
The Liberty’s victory came two days after they delivered just 71 points in a home loss to the Lynx that was the team’s third-lowest scoring game of the season. New York shot 42.4 percent from the field in the loss.
The only other time New York played on the back end of consecutive days, they lost to the Sparks at home on July 26 to start a four-game losing streak.
Liberty star center Breanna Stewart came away with a right knee injury in the defeat and has missed the past eight games. Nyara Sabally (knee) and Isabelle Harrison (concussion) also are out.
“It’s attention to detail, passing, cutting with purpose, (sticking) to plays, pay attention in timeouts,” Meesseman said about playing short-handed. “It’s the details and discipline we have to show. And no matter who you have on the court, it’s all about hustle.”
–Field Level Media
