The Las Vegas Aces return to action Sunday night looking to continue their push toward the postseason when they face the Toronto Tempo at Rogers Arena.
The Aces enter the matchup at 25-13, third in the WNBA standings, while Toronto sits at 11-25. The game tips at 7 p.m. ET and marks the second meeting between the teams this season.
For Toronto, Sunday’s matchup comes with renewed confidence. The Tempo snapped a franchise-worst 12-game losing streak Friday with an 82-79 victory over the Portland Fire. Isabelle Harrison delivered a 25-point, 10-rebound performance, while rookie Kiki Rice matched her career high with 19 points.
That win could provide a much-needed boost for a Toronto team that has endured a difficult stretch since its 93-91 victory over New York on July 12. The Tempo are now playing their second game of a two-game set at Rogers Arena as part of their Cross-Canada Series.
But Toronto will have to contend with a Las Vegas team that has already shown it can create problems for the expansion franchise.
The Aces defeated the Tempo 109-83 on July 20, building a 26-point margin in the first meeting. A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 26 points, while Jackie Young recorded 12 assists. Harrison led Toronto with 26 points and 11 rebounds in that game.
Wilson remains the centerpiece
The biggest challenge for Toronto is obvious: A’ja Wilson.
Wilson enters Sunday averaging 25.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, ranking first in the league in scoring. She has scored at least 15 points in every game this season and has reached 20 points in 28 of her 35 appearances.
She also enters the game just 92 points shy of 1,000 for the season, a milestone that would add another accomplishment to an already historic campaign. Her 908 points currently rank seventh on the WNBA’s all-time single-season scoring list.
Wilson’s impact goes well beyond scoring. The Aces’ game notes show that she has recorded 18 double-doubles this season, while her 32.9 usage rating ranks seventh in league history.
She is also a major factor defensively. Wilson leads the league with 121 combined steals and blocks, averaging 3.46 stocks per game.
Aces bring more than Wilson
Toronto will also have to deal with the Aces’ perimeter playmaking.
Jackie Young is averaging 18.7 points and 6.6 assists, while Chelsea Gray is contributing 12.1 points and 6.8 assists per game. Young and Wilson were both selected as 2026 All-Stars.
The Aces rank first in the WNBA in assists at 21.9 per game and third in field-goal percentage at 48.2%. They also rank third in three-point percentage and third in free-throw percentage.
That offensive balance is one reason Las Vegas has remained among the league’s top teams despite entering Sunday having split its last four games.
The Aces did, however, close their most recent outing on a strong note, defeating Connecticut 101-78 on August 20. Las Vegas is coming off a 25-13 record through its first 38 games and is 13-6 on the road this season.
Toronto’s injury situation
The Tempo enter the game shorthanded.
According to the team’s August 22 personnel report, María Conde, Nyara Sabally, Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow are listed as out.
Mabrey is particularly significant after leading Toronto in scoring for much of the season. Sykes had only recently returned from a lengthy absence before leaving Friday’s game with a left-foot injury, while Morrow also exited that contest early with a knee injury.
That puts additional responsibility on Harrison, Rice, Laura Juskaite and Julie Allemand.
Rice has emerged as one of Toronto’s most encouraging developments. Over her last five games, the rookie is averaging 15.8 points and 4.6 assists, while shooting 53.8% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. She has scored in double figures in 11 of her 12 starts.
The matchup
Statistically, the Aces have the advantage on both ends of the floor.
Las Vegas averages 90.6 points per game compared with Toronto’s 87.5 and allows just 87.1 points per game, while the Tempo allow 93.9. The Aces also hold significant advantages in field-goal percentage, assists, turnovers and defensive efficiency.
Still, Toronto enters the game with something it did not have a week ago: momentum.
The Tempo finally have a win to build on, and Harrison and Rice are coming off strong performances. The question is whether they can carry that energy into a matchup with the defending WNBA champions.
For Las Vegas, the objective is more straightforward: take care of business against a short-handed Toronto team and continue protecting its position near the top of the standings.
The Aces and Tempo will meet again Friday, August 28, in Las Vegas, making Sunday’s game the first half of a home-and-home stretch between the two teams.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
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