A’ja Wilson scored 32 points and Chelsea Gray tied a WNBA record with nine 3-pointers as the Las Vegas Aces beat the Portland Fire 105-89 for their fifth straight win.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Fire felt it shift late in the fourth quarter when Chelsea Gray stepped back and found the bottom of the net again and again. With 2:35 left, Gray hit another 3-pointer to tie a WNBA record, pushing the Las Vegas Aces to a 101-86 lead they would not relinquish.
Las Vegas won 105-89 on Thursday night, closing the game with a cushion built on big-shot shooting and consistent scoring. The Aces improved to 9-3 and kept their streak alive at five straight victories.
Wilson carried much of the weight offensively, finishing with 32 points for her second straight game of at least 30. She was 10 of 20 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. It was another move up the league’s career lists: Wilson moved into 16th place on the WNBA’s career scoring list and 14th on the rebounding list.
Gray finished with 29 points and tied the WNBA mark with nine 3-pointers, a total she reached on a career-high night from distance. She was 9 of 13 from 3-point range, while Portland went 8 for 26 as a team from behind the arc.
The Aces kept multiple contributors in double figures throughout the game. Jackie Young added 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and NaLyssa Smith recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds. Stephanie Talbot pulled down 10 rebounds.
Portland’s scoring came from the middle of its lineup, led by Carla Leite with 18 points. Megan Gustafson added 17, Sarah Ashlee Barker scored 14, and Bridget Carleton finished with 13.
Las Vegas built early momentum and didn’t let go. In the first half. Wilson. Gray. Smith and Young each scored in double digits as the Aces took a 56-50 lead. Las Vegas shot 17 of 32 from the field (53%) and hit 8 of 13 from 3-point range. The team was also solid at the line, going 14 of 16 from the free-throw line. Gray, in particular, made six 3-pointers in the first half to total 18 first-half points.
When the third quarter opened, the Aces kept pressing. Wilson scored 14 of Las Vegas’ first 16 points of the second half, taking the team to a 72-60 lead with 4:48 left in the third. Entering the fourth, Las Vegas led 85-74 after starting the final period with a 7-2 run.
The Aces will host Minnesota on Saturday.
The Fire will stay at home to play Dallas on Saturday.
WNBA Las Vegas Aces Portland Fire A’ja Wilson Chelsea Gray nine 3-pointers game recap