A’ja Wilson led the way 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 night. Young also showcased her playmaking skills with eight assists and no turnovers, with Chelsea Gray chipping in 11 points. This game marked the Aces’ first appearance without NaLyssa Smith, who is out for the season due to a left leg injury sustained in a previous game against Toronto.
On the opposing side, Isabelle Harrison notched 15 points for Toronto (11-28), with Laura Juskaite scoring 14, Kia Nurse adding 12, and Kiki Rice and Kiana Williams each contributing 10 points off the bench.
Following this win, the Aces (27-13) maintained their one-game lead for third place in the WNBA playoff standings, staying ahead of Indiana (26-14), who defeated Connecticut 111-91.
Jackie Young’s 3-pointer early in the game broke an 8-8 tie, propelling Las Vegas to maintain the lead for the rest of the match. The Aces ended the first quarter ahead 27-17, shooting 50% from the field, including 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, while Toronto committed nine turnovers in the opening period.
Las Vegas continued their strong shooting performance into the second quarter, heading into halftime with a commanding 56-39 lead. Despite a slight dip in 3-point shooting efficiency in the quarter, Las Vegas managed to shoot 50% from the field overall.
Toronto struggled with fouls in the first half, committing 12 personal fouls, allowing the Aces to capitalize by converting 13 of 14 free throws.
In upcoming games, the Tempo will face the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday, while the Aces will take on the Seattle Storm on Thursday, Sept. 17.