‘It’s my job’: A’ja Wilson sends blunt message after 38-point masterclass as Aces beat Fever 102-85
· Yahoo Sports
A’ja Wilson delivered a career-best playoff performance on Sunday, scoring 38 points as the Las Vegas Aces defeated Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 102-85 in Game 1.
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Wilson added 16 rebounds and four blocks while shooting 15-of-19 from the field, helping the Aces take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three first-round series.
The four-time MVP had already been named AP WNBA Player of the Year for a third consecutive season earlier in the day, before producing another reminder of her level on the playoff stage.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesA’ja Wilson explains her mindset after dominant Game 1 performance
Despite her huge numbers, Wilson insisted she was simply doing what she is expected to do when speaking to ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game.
“It’s my job, Holly. It’s what I do. I don’t take a minute on this court for granted, so when I come out I try to be the best that I can be and allow my teammates to do themselves as well and allow them to be their best. It’s my job. I’m going to continue to do it at a high level always. We go as much as we go.”
Wilson’s performance helped Las Vegas build a 27-point lead, while the Aces forced 17 Indiana turnovers and turned them into 28 points.
Chelsea Gray added 14 points and eight assists, while Jackie Young finished with 21 points and 10 assists. Gray also moved into second place on the WNBA’s all-time playoff assists list.
Aces coach Becky Hammon was full of praise for Wilson afterwards.
“(A’ja Wilson) was a clinic tonight,” Hammon said. “She was all over the court on the defensive end, the offensive end, blocked shots, boards, scoring. I mean there was nothing she couldn’t do tonight.”
The Fever now face a must-win Game 2 in Indianapolis on Tuesday, with a defeat ending their season.
Clark finished Game 1 with 15 points and 10 assists but also committed six turnovers, while Indiana struggled to contain Las Vegas for long stretches.
For Wilson, the challenge is now to carry that same approach into the next game as the Aces look to move into the WNBA semi-finals.
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