Make it a dozen: Aces extend winning streak, move to 2nd in standings

Aces star A’ja Wilson, for the second time in a week, drew MVP chants in the waning moments of a road win Wednesday.

The three-time MVP earned a loud ovation from the crowd at Gateway Center Arena after recording 34 points and nine rebounds in an 81-75 victory over the Atlanta Dream.

It was the Aces’ 12th straight win, which moved them into second place in the WNBA standings. Wilson’s performance led to her being showered with praise, but Dream guard Rhyne Howard wasn’t happy with the display after the game.

“We rely on our fans,” Howard said. “It’s easy to lose momentum when you have other people cheering against you.”

Howard, who scored 19 points in the loss, was blunt in criticizing the home crowd for making it “feel like an away game for us and a home game for the other team.”

That’s just the A’ja Wilson effect.

She had the crowd’s full support when she hit back-to-back 3-pointers as part of a 15-0 run for the Aces (26-14) at the end of the third quarter. The Dream (24-14), who were up 42-40 at halftime, were outscored 21-6 in the third.

Atlanta cut its deficit to four points with 10 seconds remaining but couldn’t claw its way back into the game. The win allowed the Aces to leapfrog the Dream in the standings and sweep the season series.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. ‘Silent assassin’

Aces guard Jackie Young recorded 10 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in the victory for her second career triple-double.

Young, nicknamed the “silent assassin,” has been anything but quiet this season. She is the first player in franchise history to have multiple triple-doubles. Her first came against the Los Angeles Sparks on July 29.

“It doesn’t come by any surprise when she has a triple-double because we see the countless hours that she puts in, and she’s a perfectionist,” Wilson said. “(Young) takes every challenge head on.”

Aces coach Becky Hammon credited Young for taking on more ball-handling responsibilities this season after guard Kelsey Plum was traded to the Sparks.

Young wasn’t the only standout in the Aces’ backcourt Wednesday. Point guard Chelsea Gray had 14 points and five assists and guard Jewell Loyd scored 14 points off the bench.

2. Win streak

The Aces, before mounting the WNBA’s longest active winning streak, were eighth in the standings and barely in the playoff picture.

Now only the Minnesota Lynx (30-7) have a better record.

The Aces’ winning streak is tied for the longest in franchise history, which was set in 2012 when Hammon was still a player for the then-San Antonio Silver Stars. Hammon said Wednesday she doesn’t remember that winning streak at all. She’s focused on the history her team is making now. The Aces’ 12-game winning streak is one of the 10 longest in WNBA history.

“This team is etching out their presence,” Hammon said. “They’re making their presence felt.”

3. Rest on the way

The Aces don’t play again until Sept. 4, when they host the Lynx at T-Mobile Arena.

Hammon said she was worried about her team’s legs entering Wednesday’s game but was impressed with the players’ energy levels despite playing their eighth game in 15 days. She said she’s giving the Aces two days off as a reward.

They became the second team to clinch a spot in the WNBA playoffs, which begin Sept. 14, with a win over the Chicago Sky on Monday.

“Rest, hydrate, rest. Sleep in your own bed. Find your peace,” Loyd said when asked how the Aces plan to spend their break. “(We) understand who we are and what we need to recover. The group chat will still be active and we’ll still be thinking about basketball. But sometimes it’s good to get away.”

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @CallieJLaw on X.