A'ja Wilson - (Getty Images)
A’ja Wilson had a phenomenal game, she scored 53 points and tied the WNBA single-game scoring record. Her coach, Becky Hammon, described her as a superhero on the court, saying she runs fast, jumps high, and catches like Spider-Man. But what makes her truly special is her humility and how she treats her teammates.
Tying the WNBA Single-Game Scoring Record
Just 11 days ago, A’ja set her career high with 40 points, but this time, she went even bigger. The Las Vegas Aces won 112-100 against the Atlanta Dream. A’ja’s 53 points in this game tied the WNBA record set by Liz Cambage in 2018.
Only one other player, Riquna Williams, scored over 50 points in a WNBA game, with 51 in 2013.
A’ja made 16 of her 23 shots and was excellent from the free-throw line, making 20 out of 21, which is a career-best. She’s only the second WNBA player to make 20 or more free throws in a game, with the record being 22 by Cynthia Cooper in 1998.
To reach her record-tying 53 points, A’ja made four free throws in the final minute. She credited her success to her aggressiveness and her ability to read different defensive strategies.
A’ja’s Aggressiveness and Defensive Skills
A’ja faced tough defence from Cheyenne Parker and five other Dream players, but they couldn’t stop her. Kelsey Plum, her teammate, praised her as a generational talent and one of the greatest players of all time.
With this performance, A’ja now has 735 points this season, breaking the Aces’ single-season record. The Aces also tied a record with 29 wins this season, matching the 2014 Phoenix Mercury.
This impressive victory came after the Aces’ first home loss of the season, and it was the start of a four-game road trip.
Besides her scoring, A’ja was a force on defence with seven rebounds and four blocks, leading the league with 70 blocks this season.
In Coach Hammon’s words, “She was really good on the defensive end, the rim protection; she was just everywhere.” A’ja Wilson’s performance has solidified her place as one of the greatest players in WNBA history.
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