Mercury Grounded: A’ja Wilson’s Historic Night Sends Phoenix Spiraling Below .500

Phoenix (Sept. 1, 2024)— The Las Vegas Aces (20-12) stormed past the Phoenix Mercury (16-17) on Sunday afternoon, claiming a commanding 97-79 victory at the Footprint Center. The win, powered by A’ja Wilson’s historic performance, moved the Aces into sole possession of fourth place in the WNBA standings.

Wilson was the star of the afternoon, delivering a jaw-dropping 41 points and 17 rebounds, marking just the second 40+ point, 15+ rebound game in WNBA history. Her dominant display also tied her with Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi for the most career 40+ point games, with four.

The Aces came out swinging, outscoring the Mercury 29-10 in the first quarter. Phoenix struggled to find their rhythm, with Wilson outscoring and outrebounding the entire Mercury team in the opening period. Las Vegas capitalized on Phoenix’s early struggles, embarking on an 11-0 run that set the tone for the rest of the game.

Despite the absence of their starting point guard, Chelsea Gray, who exited the game with a back injury in the second quarter, the Aces continued to dominate. A 13-0 run midway through the second quarter extended their lead to 32 points, leaving Phoenix with a deficit they couldn’t overcome.

Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 24 points, while Sophie Cunningham added 16 off the bench. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the Aces’ relentless attack. The Mercury’s offense faltered as they committed 15 turnovers, which Las Vegas converted into 21 points.

Postgame, Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts expressed his frustration, acknowledging the team’s struggles on both ends of the court. “We’re searching right now. We’re not a very good team at the moment. I still believe in the group, but we have to be better,” Tibbetts said.

Phoenix now finds itself in seventh place, one game behind the Indiana Fever, who have been on a hot streak, winning six of their last seven games. The Mercury’s situation is further complicated by technical fouls for both Diana Taurasi and Natasha Cloud, leading to their suspensions for the next game against the Atlanta Dream.

With only a few games left in the regular season, the Mercury will need to regroup quickly if they hope to secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Aces, buoyed by Wilson’s remarkable performance, are firmly in the hunt for a strong postseason position.