TORONTO — The Las Vegas Aces returned to winning form Monday night with one of their most complete performances of the season, defeating the Toronto Tempo 109-83 at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The victory improved Las Vegas to 18-7 while extending Toronto’s recent struggles.
A’ja Wilson once again led the way for the defending champions. The league MVP candidate finished with 26 points on an efficient 11-of-14 shooting performance. Meanwhile, Jackie Young delivered one of her best games of the season, recording a season-high 24 points and 12 assists while controlling the offense from start to finish.
The balanced attack helped the Aces dominate both ends of the floor and continue their push toward the top of the WNBA standings.
Wilson and Young set the tone early
Las Vegas established momentum from the opening quarter with crisp ball movement and efficient shooting. Wilson consistently found space inside the paint, while Young stretched Toronto’s defense with timely perimeter shooting.
Young connected on four three-pointers during the game. Her final triple gave the Aces a commanding 99-79 advantage with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, effectively ending any hopes of a Toronto comeback.
NaLyssa Smith also played a key role in the victory. She added 18 points and provided valuable scoring throughout the evening, giving Las Vegas another reliable offensive option.
The Aces shot efficiently, shared the basketball well and capitalized on Toronto’s defensive breakdowns throughout the contest.
Becky Hammon reaches another coaching milestone
Monday’s victory also marked another career achievement for Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon.
The win moved Hammon into 13th place in WNBA history for career coaching victories, passing both Richie Adubato and Pokey Chatman with her 135th career win.
Since taking over the Aces, Hammon has transformed the franchise into one of the league’s premier organizations. Her fast-paced offense, disciplined defense and player development continue to keep Las Vegas among the WNBA’s elite teams.
Toronto battles through adversity
Despite the loss, Toronto received an outstanding performance from Isabelle Harrison.
Harrison finished with a career-high 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for an impressive double-double. María Conde contributed 15 points and eight rebounds, while Marina Mabrey added 14 points.
The Tempo entered the game short-handed. Head coach Sandy Brondello served a one-game suspension following comments made after Friday’s contest against Atlanta. Associate head coach Olaf Lange directed the team in her absence.
Toronto also played without Brittney Sykes, Kiki Rice and Nyara Sabally because of injuries. Those absences made the challenge even greater against one of the WNBA’s strongest teams.
The loss dropped Toronto to 10-16. It also marked the team’s third consecutive defeat and seventh loss in its last eight games.
Looking ahead
The Aces now turn their attention to another important road matchup against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday. Las Vegas will look to build on Monday’s strong offensive performance and continue gaining momentum as the regular season enters a critical stretch.
Wilson was playing at an MVP level, Young orchestrating the offense and Hammon reaching another coaching milestone, the Aces continue to show why they remain among the favorites to compete for another WNBA championship.
Website: https://aces.wnba.com
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