A’ja Wilson Out: Aces vs. Wings, Bueckers Matchup
- Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers returned from a four-game absence with a bang, scoring a career-high 35 points against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.
- Bueckers' performance against Phoenix included 13-of-19 shooting and five 3-pointers.
- The Aces are also looking to rebound after a 97-89 loss to the Sparks,a game in which Los Angeles shot a blistering 56.9%.
Paige Bueckers’ explosive return fuels the Dallas Wings as they prepare to clash wiht the Las Vegas Aces, but a crucial twist throws a wrench in the Aces’ plans: A’ja Wilson is sidelined due to a concussion. Bueckers showcased her prowess with a career-high 35 points, while the Aces grapple with defensive woes. The Wings are fighting to break a six-game losing streak, making this Commissioner’s Cup matchup a must-watch. Despite Jackie Young’s and Chelsea Gray’s scoring, the Aces struggle. News Directory 3 knows this WNBA contest carries significant weight. With both teams aiming to climb the standings, the absence of Wilson places a significant burden on the Aces. Discover what’s next to unfold in this compelling showdown.
Paige Bueckers’ Big Night: Wings Face Aces Without A’ja wilson
Updated june 14, 2025
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers returned from a four-game absence with a bang, scoring a career-high 35 points against the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday. Now, Bueckers and the wings (1-10) prepare to face the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night in Commissioner’s Cup action. the Aces (4-4), however, will be without A’ja Wilson, who entered concussion protocol after taking an elbow to the nose in their Wednesday loss to the Los Angeles sparks.
Bueckers’ performance against Phoenix included 13-of-19 shooting and five 3-pointers. She joins Caitlin Clark as the only WNBA rookies to achieve at least 35 points and five 3-pointers in a single game. Her return followed three games missed due to a concussion and one due to illness. Despite the remarkable individual performance, the Wings fell to the mercury 93-80, extending their losing streak to six games.
The Aces are also looking to rebound after a 97-89 loss to the Sparks,a game in which Los Angeles shot a blistering 56.9%. Jackie Young scored 34 points and Chelsea Grey added 28 for las Vegas, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Sparks’ hot shooting. wilson managed 13 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four blocks before exiting the game.
Defence has been a major concern for Las Vegas.Los Angeles converted 83.3% of their shots in the first 14 minutes of Wednesday’s game, building a considerable lead. Aces coach Becky Hammon expressed frustration with her team’s overall performance.
”We score 89 points and we only had two good offensive production nights: Chelsea and jackie. Everybody else were stinkers,” Hammon said. “The bench was a stinker. But 89 points should be enough to win a game. You can’t give up 50 points at halftime. We’re still searching for that 40-minute game. It’s like a damn unicorn.”
Friday’s game holds extra importance as part of the Commissioner’s Cup. both the Aces (1-2) and the Wings (0-4) are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings in the competition.
What’s next
The Wings will look to capitalize on Bueckers’ momentum and Wilson’s absence as they seek to snap their losing streak against the Aces. Las Vegas, meanwhile, will need to find a way to shore up their defense and compensate for the loss of their star player.