Aces End Mystics’ Seven-Game Winning Streak Behind Wilson and Young

A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young combined for 51 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Las Vegas Aces (23-11) to an 86-76 victory over Washington (19-13), putting an end to the Mystics’ 7-game winning streak, on Tuesday night in Michelob ULTRA Arena. Wilson recorded game-highs of 26 point, 13 points and 4 blocks, Young contributed 25 points and 8 assists with zero turnovers, Chelsea Gray added 12 points and 5 assists and NaLyssa Smith posted an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Shakira Austin led Washington with 20 points, Sonia Citron scored 19 and Kiki Iriafen had 15 points and matched Wilson’s 13 caroms.

Stats | Gallery | Highlights

TEAM	1	2	3	4	Final
Aces	22	19	22	23	86
Mystics	19	22	19	16	76

1st Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 22, Washington 19)
The first quarter was filled with a series of runs. With the Aces up 5-2, Washington strung together the next 9 points, Las Vegas countered with 8 unanswered points, followed by a pair of 4-0 Mystics spurts that were sandwiched around a 9-0 streak by Young. The Aces finished the quarter shooting 41.2% (7-17 FGs) from the field and 4 of 9 from deep, while the Mystics made 9 of 18 overall and 1 of 2 behind the arc. Young paced all players with 13 points and Citron scored 7 for Washington.

2nd Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 41, Washington 41)
The Aces bumped it up to 24-19 before Washington claimed a 28-24 upper hand behind another 9-0 burst. The score vacillated from there and by halftime, the board was knotted for the 5^th time in the quarter, which also featured 4 lead changes. The Aces made 42.1% (8-19 FGs) from the field and the Mystics hit on 8 of 16 of their field goal attempts. Both teams shot 2 of 4 from 3-point. Citron and Wilson scored 6 apiece to lead the field.

3rd Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 63, Washington 60)
After a free throw by Washington, the Aces retook the lead on a Gray bucket, which sparked a 9-2 run for a 50-44 Las Vegas lead. The home side never again trailed. The teams swapped scores over the next few minutes, ending with a 58-54 Aces edge. Las Vegas then connected on back-to-back buckets to move in front by 9, 63-54. However, Washington closed the gap in the waning minutes with the final 6 points of the frame. The Aces netted 52.9% (9-17 FGs) from the field and 2 of 6 from deep; Washington’s shooting dropped to 38.9% (7-18 FGs) and it missed all 5 3-point attempts. Wilson led everyone with 9 points and 5 rebounds, Austin had 8 points for D.C.

4th Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 86, Washington 76)
The Aces outscored the Mystics 8-2 for a 71-62 lead in the first 3 minutes of the final stanza and were up by 9 again, 77-68, with less than 4 minutes to play. Washington got 1 from the line and a layup after a Vegas miss, narrowing the gap to 77-71. However, Las Vegas responded with the next 7 points, 5 of which came from Young, for its largest lead of the night, 84-71, with 65 seconds to play, and held off Washington in the final minute. The Aces made 47.1% (8-17 FGs) of their shot attempts, but went 1 of 4 from 3-point; the Mystics were held to their lowest shooting quarter – 31.2% (5-16 FGs) and hit 2 of 7 3-point attempts. Wilson paced everyone with 9 points and no Mystics player had more than 5.

KEY STATS

The ACLU is currently tracking 528 anti-LGBTQ+ bills across our nation, zero of which are in Nevada.

Women still make just 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. Black women earn only 64 cents and Latinas only 54 cents for each dollar earned by white men.

Young’s 8 assists led to 18 points and Gray’s 5 contributed to 12.

There were a total of 10 lead changes and 6 tied scores; the final tie was at the half and the Aces took the lead for good at 9:22 in the third quarter (43-42).

The Mystics shot 50%  (17-34 FGs) in the first half, including 3 of 6 from deep, and were held to just 35.3% (12-34 FGs) and 2 of 12 behind the arc in the second half; Las Vegas went from making 41.7% (15-36) of its attempts overall from afar in the first half to 50% (17-34 FGs) in the second half.

	FGM-A	PCT	3PM-A	PCT	FTM-A	PCT	OFF	DEF	REB	AT	PF	ST	TO	BK
Aces	32-70	.457	9-23	.391	13-14	.929	9	21	30	20	15	9	8	5
Mystics	29-68	.426	5-18	.278	13–18	.722	14	27	41	20	17	5	16	2

Points scored ….

	In the Paint	2nd Chance	Fast Break	Off TOs	Bench
Aces	28	16	9	26	20
Mystics	42	14	7	8	12

GAME NOTES

Young entered the game with 3,992 career points and scored point No. 4,000 with a 3-pointer at 2:25 in the first quarter. She now has 4,017 points and became the 25th player in WNBA history with at least 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 300 steals. With 276 games played, she was the 4th fastest to the quad stats milestones, trailing just Diana Taurasi (246 games), Candace Parker (261) and Tamika Catchings (272).

Jewell Loyd needed 1 made field goal to break a tie with Lauren Jackson (2,090); she is now alone at No. 17 on the WNBA all-time list with 2,092 made field goals.

Young has now scored 20 points in each of her last 4 games and 8 of her last 9.

Young became the 8th player in league history with at least 25 points, 8 assists and zero turnovers, joining Seimone Augustus, Sabrina Ionescu, Moriah Jefferson, Kelsey Mitchell, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Courtney Williams. No one has done it more than once.

Wilson’s 20-point/10-rebound double-double was her league-high 17th on the season and 107th of her career. She now trails No. 1 Tina Charles (109) in that category by just 2.

Tonight’s contest marked Wilson’s league-leading 12th career game notching at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.

Wilson now has 17 double-doubles on the year and a league fifth-most 137 for her career.

Smith recorded her 3rd double-double of the year.

Gray’s 1 steal moved her into No. 28 on the all-time list with 478 career steals and Loyd’s 1 moved her into a tie for No. 29 with Sophia Young-Malcolm with 477. Next up is No. 27 Penny Taylor’s 480.

Tonight’s game marked the Aces’ 61st straight sellout at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Las Vegas was without the services of Kierstan Bell (personal), Dana Evans (left leg), Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (concussion protocol) and Justine Pissott (right leg).

UP NEXT
It’s déjà vu. The Aces take on Washington again Thursday at 7 p.m. on Prime.