Another day, another A’ja Wilson masterclass.
Just hours after being named one of the cover athletes of video game NBA 2K25, A’ja Wilson proved exactly why she was the perfect choice. The WNBA’s best player recorded her first 20-20 game as a professional basketball player, recording 24 points and 20 rebounds in Wednesday’s 84-79 win over the Storm at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena.
“My shot wasn't falling in the beginning, so I had to find other ways to be productive for my team,” Wilson said. “Sometimes that's just the way the game goes. The shot's not going to always be perfect all the time, but those tides can turn.
"So, I got on the board a lot, try to get easy touches, more possessions for my team. Once the shot started going in, then it just flows from there.”
The game was tipped-off at noon, certainly unorthodox for Wednesday but nothing the Aces couldn’t handle. The early start was the WNBA’s annual “Camp Day”, where summer camps throughout the country bring their kids to watch WNBA games. In the past, these games have been significant in courting new generations of fans to the league.
Imagine going to your local summer camp as a kid, and they told you your weekly field trip was an outing to see the best basketball player on the planet? Kids across Seattle were given that treat this morning, and what they were able to see in person surely beat out a game of kickball or an outing at the museum.
It wasn’t all fun and games for Wilson however, as she took an elbow to the face in the third quarter that drew blood. In true Wilson fashion, she re-entered the game moments later.
"I’ve never seen that much blood come out of my nose, so that's a new one,” Wilson said. “I've had more nosebleeds this year than I've ever had in my entire life.”
She did receive an abundance of help in the win as Jackie Young scored a team-high 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray added 13 and 11 points, respectively, with Gray adding six assists.
The win gave the Aces their eighth win in nine games, a stark turnaround from the 6-7 start. They’ll look to stay on that path against the Dream on at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Atlanta.