All three games of the night were marked by WNBA records. Caitlin Clark distinguished herself by clinching the single-season assists record for a rookie, Angel Reese became the fastest player to reach 20 double-doubles, and A'ja Wilson broke her own record for games with 20 points and 10 rebounds in a season.
In a game marked by the meeting between Becky Hammon and her former teammate Dearica Hamby, A'ja Wilson distinguished herself by compiling 34 points and 13 rebounds against the Sparks. This is (already) her 17th game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, and the new record in the WNBA. Last season, she had stopped at 16 games with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
The 2020 and 2022 MVP also became the first player to have a second game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. The 30-10-5 is already a very private club because before her first flash at the start of the season against the Wings, only Candace Parker (2014), Maya Moore (2014), Tamika Catchings (2002) and Brandy Reed (2000) had achieved it before her.
A revenge
On a collective level, this outing against the Sparks was above all an opportunity to rectify the situation for the reigning champions. Not only were the Aces coming off a defeat against the Liberty after the resumption of the championship, but Wilson and his gang had also lost twice to the Sparks this season.
Faced with the performance of the Olympic MVP, the Sparks were never able to get within 3 points of the Aces, who won by a wide margin, 87-71.
“We took a lot of things on ourselves during their victories against us”, she estimates . “There were some close games, overtime… but that wasn't us. It never should have happened that way. So I think we were all very hungry in that sense.”
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers attempted; LF = Free throws made / Free throws attempted; O = Offensive rebound; D = Defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose balls; Ct: Blocks; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the court; Pts = Points; Eval: Player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
