A’ja Wilson’s first week of the season already had history, efficiency and a perfect road trip.
Now it has another award attached to it.
Wilson earned her 29th career Western Conference Player of the Week honor Tuesday after leading the Las Vegas Aces to a 4-1 start. The award moves Wilson into second place in WNBA history for Player of the Week honors, trailing only Tina Charles, who earned 33.
That is the headline. The week behind it is the story.
Another award, another climb
Wilson averaged 25.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 blocks across the Aces’ first five games. After Las Vegas opened with a home loss to Phoenix, Wilson helped lead the Aces to four straight road wins at Los Angeles, Connecticut twice and Atlanta.
During that 4-0 road swing, Wilson averaged 26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 blocks while shooting 61.0% from the field and 66.7% from 3-point range.
The night that defined the week
The centerpiece came May 15 in Connecticut, when Wilson scored 45 points in a 101-94 win over the Sun. She shot 15-for-18 from the field, 2-for-2 from three and 13-for-13 at the free-throw line.
That performance made Wilson the first player in WNBA history with multiple 45-point games. She also owns a 53-point game against Atlanta from Aug. 22, 2023, which tied the league’s single-game scoring record and remains the Aces’ franchise record.
The 45-point night was not just big. It was clean. Wilson scored efficiently, stretched the floor and answered when Connecticut cut into the lead. Afterward, she said the number that mattered most to her was the efficiency.
Greatness, still not boring
Chelsea Gray put the week in simpler terms after watching Wilson up close again.
“You can’t get bored with watching greatness,” Gray said after the Connecticut win. “I’m around it all the time. I’m surprised every day.”
Becky Hammon also made clear before and after the week’s biggest performances that Wilson’s offensive game is still expanding. Hammon wants Wilson taking more threes, reading more defenses and operating from different spots on the floor, not just living in one area.
A road trip worth remembering
The Aces needed all of that during a road trip that tested them in different ways. Wilson had the historic night in Connecticut, then gave Las Vegas 20 points, six rebounds and two blocks Sunday in Atlanta as the Aces survived an 85-84 thriller to finish the trip unbeaten.
Next comes the homecoming.
Banner night is next
The Aces return to Michelob ULTRA Arena on Saturday, May 23, against the Los Angeles Sparks. Before tipoff, Las Vegas will raise its newest championship banner, and the first 7,500 fans will receive a replica banner.
Wilson already brought home the first weekly award.
Now the Aces get to bring the celebration home, too.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
