A’ja Wilson has become the first member of an exclusive club after dropping 26 points and 10 rebounds on 76.9 percent shooting from the field to lead the Las Vegas Aces to an 85-71 Game 3 win over the Connecticut Sun. Wilson’s 20/10 performance made her the first player in WNBA history to record five straight double-doubles with 20+ points and 10+ points.
A’ja Wilson is the first player in WNBA history to have five games with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds in a single postseason.@LVAces | #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/QRZJGX1u32
— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) September 14, 2022
The two-time MVP, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray, combined for 67 points, becoming the second trio of players in WNBA history to all score 20-points in a Finals game. The first trio to do it was Breanna Stewart, Natasha Howard, and Alysha Clark, who accomplished the feat during Game 2 of the 2020 WNBA Finals against the Aces, ironically enough.
Wilson played a significant role in Plum refinding her swag before Game 2, getting brutally honest with the Washington product who led the Aces in scoring after averaging 20.2 points (second in the League) and 5.1 assists (ninth in the W) per game on 42 percent shooting from beyond the arc (ranks fourth in the W).
Plum finished third in MVP voting and played a significant role in Las Vegas, ending with the best record in the League behind the second-best offense in WNBA history. Gray also finished ninth in MVP voting. The Sun was the only other team to have two players finish top 10 in MVP voting.
“I told [Plum] she needed to get her s— together,” Wilson said. “At the end of the day, that’s what she needs to do. Make sure she understood that we need her to make shots, and I know it sounds harsh, but KP is a pro, and she went out there and took care of business. I think she understands that we believe in her, and like I said in the last press conference, I have ways that I talk to my teammates to get them to understand where I need to be and where we need to be. Yeah, I cussed her out.”
Plum’s resurgence game after she relentlessly attacked the rim. The 2022 All-Sar Game MVP knocked down all six of her shot attempts in the restricted area and sank all five of her free-throw attempts.
Gray, Plum, and Wilson will look to complete a series sweep of the Connecticut Sun on Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
