LAS VEGAS — Jackie Young provided the early spark, A’ja Wilson delivered the game-high scoring, and the Las Vegas Aces controlled the Toronto Tempo for a 93-73 victory.
Wilson finished with 27 points and eight rebounds, while Young recorded 23 points and eight assists without committing a turnover. Chelsea Gray added 11 points and four steals as Las Vegas turned defensive pressure and ball security into a decisive advantage.
Young helped establish control in the opening quarter.
With the score tied at 8, Young connected on a 28-foot 3-pointer off a Chelsea Gray assist to put Las Vegas ahead 11-8. The Aces never trailed again.
Young scored 12 points and made three 3-pointers in the first quarter as Las Vegas built a 27-17 advantage.
The Aces expanded that lead in the second quarter and went into halftime ahead 56-39. Their advantage eventually reached 26 points as Toronto struggled to generate enough offense to seriously threaten the lead.
Turnovers were one of the clearest differences.
Las Vegas committed only seven turnovers compared with Toronto’s 16, a plus-nine margin for the Aces. Las Vegas turned those mistakes into an 18-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
Gray led the defensive effort with four steals as the Aces finished with 10 as a team. Toronto recorded six.
Wilson supplied the scoring punch with 27 points and also led Las Vegas with eight rebounds. Young complemented her 23 points with a game-high eight assists, giving the Aces production as both a scorer and facilitator.
Las Vegas shot 32-of-75 from the field, or 42.7 percent, and made 10 of 33 attempts from 3-point range. The Aces were particularly effective at the free-throw line, converting 19 of 21 attempts for 90.5 percent.
Toronto finished 27-of-67 from the field, or 40.3 percent, and made 10 of 28 3-pointers. The Tempo went 9-of-13 at the free-throw line.
The teams were nearly even on the glass, with Las Vegas holding a 38-37 rebounding edge.
Isabelle Harrison led Toronto with 15 points, while Laura Juskaite scored 14 and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Kia Nurse added 12 points.
The Tempo scored 34 points after halftime, but Las Vegas remained firmly in control and finished with a 20-point victory.
The win improved the Aces to 27-13, while Toronto fell to 11-28.
For Las Vegas, the formula was established early and held throughout the night: Young created the initial separation, the Aces protected the basketball and forced Toronto into mistakes, and Wilson provided the scoring needed to turn that advantage into a convincing 93-73 win.
The win brings Las Vegas Aces to a record of 27-13 on the season, while the loss brings Tempo to a record of 11-28.
