Las Vegas, NV — A’ja Wilson delivered another all-around performance Tuesday night, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 89-79 and secured at least the No. 3 seed in the upcoming playoffs.
The victory was the sixth straight for Las Vegas, which improved to 30-13 and guaranteed itself home-court advantage in the opening round of the postseason.
With the playoffs set to begin Sunday, the Aces remained in position to potentially face the Washington Mystics in a best-of-three first-round series if the current standings hold.
Chelsea Gray added 17 points for Las Vegas, while Stephanie Talbot and Jackie Young each scored 14. Young also distributed the ball effectively, finishing with 11 assists.
The Aces established control early, using a 15-0 scoring burst in the opening quarter to turn an early 5-5 tie into a 17-5 advantage.
Los Angeles refused to fold.
The Sparks answered with an 11-0 run during the second quarter, cutting what had been a double-digit deficit to 35-29 and keeping themselves within reach heading into the second half.
But every time Los Angeles threatened to make the game a one-possession contest, Las Vegas found another answer.
The Aces created separation again in the third quarter, putting together a 10-point run that pushed their advantage to 63-45. The Sparks continued to battle, but could not generate the sustained offensive run necessary to erase the deficit.
Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles with 17 points, while Erica Wheeler contributed 16. The Sparks fell to 16-27 with one regular-season game remaining.
A Special Night for Nneka Ogwumike
Before the opening tip, the Aces honored Ogwumike, one of the most accomplished players in WNBA history.
Las Vegas presented the eight-time All-Star and 2016 WNBA MVP with a bouquet of flowers as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
Ogwumike announced Aug. 19 that she would retire following the season, bringing an end to a remarkable career that has included multiple All-Star selections, an MVP award and a prominent role as president of the WNBA Players Association.
The pregame tribute added an emotional element to an otherwise important night in the playoff race.
Sparks Dealing With Injuries
Los Angeles entered the game without two key players.
Dearica Hamby missed the game with a left knee injury. Hamby spent the first several seasons of her career with the Aces organization from 2015 through 2022 and has been an important contributor for the Sparks this season, averaging 14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds.
Los Angeles was also without Cameron Brink, who is dealing with a right ankle injury. Brink, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has averaged 9.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Despite the absences, the Sparks remained competitive for much of the night before Las Vegas ultimately pulled away.
What’s Next:
The Sparks will close their regular season Thursday night when they host Golden State.
The Aces will also finish the regular season Thursday, traveling to Phoenix with their playoff seeding already secured.
For Las Vegas, Tuesday’s victory was another step toward the postseason — and another reminder of the importance of having Wilson leading the way as the Aces enter the playoffs on a six-game winning streak.
