A’ja Wilson had 28 points as the visiting Las Vegas Aces overcame a sizeable early deficit — and a career day by Ariel Atkins — to take down the Washington Mystics 89-77 on Sunday.
Wilson added 17 rebounds and was dominant in the second half as the Aces pulled away late. It was her 14th double-double of the season. Kelsey Plum had 22 points for Las Vegas, while Tiffany Hayes had a season-high-tying 17 off the bench and a game-sealing 3-pointer with 2:03 left to put the Aces ahead 82-71.
Las Vegas (16-7) has won 10 of its past 11 games and is 8-3 on the road this season. The Aces swept the season series with the Mystics, 3-0.
Atkins, in her seventh year in the WNBA, had a career-high 36 points for Washington on 13-of-25 shooting from the floor while making six 3-pointers. The Mystics (6-18) have lost five of their past seven games.
Washington started the game by making its first six shots from the floor. Atkins scored the first seven points for her team, and at the 4:57 mark of the first quarter, the Mystics led 16-6.
Atkins finished the first quarter with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting, knocking down four triples. Washington led by as many as 15 points in the first 10 minutes of action.
The two-time defending WNBA champion Aces found their footing in the second quarter and the Mystics went cold, going 5:54 between field goals at one point. Washington led 40-31 after an Atkins pull-up jumper with 2:53 left, but the Aces scored the next nine points, with Hayes, Plum and Jackie Young each sinking a 3-pointer.
Washington answered with a 3 by Julie Vanloo and led 43-40 at the half.
Las Vegas surged ahead in the third quarter, taking the lead for the first time since 2-0 on a layup by Plum early in the period that made it 44-43. Wilson went on to score 14 points in the third quarter, and Las Vegas led 65-62 going into the fourth.
–Field Level Media
