LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — A’ja Wilson scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Wednesday as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury 86-76 at Michelob Ultra Arena. Wilson, who also added three assists and two blocks, led a balanced Aces attack. NaLyssa Smith added 21 points and five rebounds, Jackie Young contributed 20 points and nine assists, and Chelsea Gray dished out nine assists. Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 26 points. Alyssa Thomas recorded 10 points and 11 assists for the Mercury, who dropped to 4-12. Las Vegas outscored Phoenix 23-15 in the third quarter and 18-12 in the fourth to pull away. The Aces led 24-28 after the first quarter and 45-49 at halftime before their second-half surge. The Aces improved to 11-4. Attendance was 9,234.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury 86-76 on Wednesday night at Michelob Ultra Arena, using a dominant second half to overcome a sluggish start and avenge a lopsided loss earlier this season. The Aces improved to 11-4, while the Mercury fell to 4-12. Las Vegas trailed by four points after the first quarter but clamped down defensively over the final two periods, holding Phoenix to 27 combined points in the second half. The Mercury managed just 12 points in the fourth quarter and shot poorly from the floor overall. A’ja Wilson led the Aces with a steady all-around performance, scoring on jumpers, layups and free throws while grabbing key rebounds and blocking shots. NaLyssa Smith also contributed significant scoring, particularly in the paint, and Chelsea Gray directed the offense with timely assists. The Aces’ defensive pressure forced numerous Mercury turnovers, including several steals by Jackie Young and Wilson. Phoenix was paced by Kahleah Copper, who attacked the rim and hit free throws, but the Mercury could not sustain their early offensive rhythm. Alyssa Thomas distributed the ball well but struggled from the field, and the Mercury bench provided limited production. The game opened with both teams trading baskets. The Aces struck first when Wilson knocked down a 19-foot jumper off an assist from Young. Copper answered with a pair of free throws for the Mercury, and Smith responded with a driving layup. The Mercury then took a brief lead as Copper scored on a driving layup and a pullup jumper. Wilson and Smith kept the Aces close, but Phoenix closed the first quarter strong. DeWanna Bonner hit a 3-pointer, then another from deep, and Lexi Held added a triple. The Mercury led 28-24 after one. In the second quarter, the Mercury extended their lead early on a 3-pointer by Jovana Nogic. But the Aces tightened their defense and began to climb back. Wilson converted a three-point play, and Smith scored on a driving floater. The Aces cut the deficit to one point after Wilson made two free throws. Copper and Thomas kept Phoenix ahead with scores inside, but the Aces pulled even late in the half. Young drilled a 3-pointer, and Wilson added a pair of free throws. Copper made two free throws with three-tenths of a second left to give the Mercury a 49-45 halftime edge. The turning point came in the third quarter. The Aces erupted out of the locker room, with Young hitting a 3-pointer to start the period. The Mercury responded with a jumper from Noemie Brochant, but the Aces took control with a 10-0 run. Young scored on a running jumper, then another from long range, and Smith added a layup. The Aces forced turnovers and converted them into fast-break points. Wilson scored from the paint and on a jumper, and the Aces outscored the Mercury 23-15 in the quarter to take a 68-64 lead into the fourth. The final period belonged to the Aces. Smith scored on a tip-in and a driving floater, and Chelsea Gray added a pullup jumper. Wilson scored on two jumpers in the final two minutes to put the game away. Phoenix could not get consistent offense, missing several jumpers and committing turnovers. The Mercury managed just 12 points in the quarter, with Copper scoring four from the free-throw line and Thomas adding two free throws. The Aces limited Phoenix to one field goal in the final six minutes. Key performers for the Aces included Wilson, Smith, Young and Gray. For the Mercury, Copper led in scoring, while Thomas had multiple assists. Held, Nogic, Linskens, Ayayi, Bonner, Akoa Makani, Brochant and Mack also saw action. The game marked a reversal of the teams’ previous meeting on May 9, when the Mercury beat the Aces 99-66 in Las Vegas. The Aces entered Wednesday coming off a 96-66 loss at Dallas on Monday, while the Mercury had lost 111-102 in overtime to Los Angeles on Saturday. Las Vegas will host Golden State on Sunday, then face New York and Dallas. Phoenix travels to Seattle on Saturday before a two-game set at Indiana. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Las Vegas 100, Phoenix 99. The Aces were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 6.5 points, and the total score of 86 went over the over/under line of 172.5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Las Vegas a 68.80 percent probability to win.

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Las Vegas Aces face the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday at Michelob Ultra Arena, a game that pits the WNBA’s top team against a struggling opponent in an unusual home-away dynamic. Las Vegas (10-3) enters on a six-game winning streak, while Phoenix (4-11) has dropped 10 of its last 11 contests. The game tips off at 7 p.m. PDT. The Aces are coming off a 100-97 win over Minnesota on Saturday. Forward A’ja Wilson has been dominant, averaging 28.8 points and 11.8 rebounds over her past four games. In that stretch, she posted a 34-point, 12-rebound, nine-assist outing against Seattle on June 8 and a 32-point, five-rebound performance against Portland on June 11. Phoenix, however, won the most recent meeting between the teams, a 99-66 blowout on May 9. Guard Kahleah Copper scored 41 points in the Mercury’s 111-102 overtime loss to Los Angeles on Saturday, adding 10 rebounds. Copper is averaging 22.0 points over her last three games, though Phoenix has lost 10 of 11. The Mercury have struggled defensively, allowing 97.6 points per game in their past five losses. Las Vegas averages 94.2 points per game and has scored 100 or more in four of its last five wins. Forward Natasha Mack and guard Alyssa Thomas have been key for Phoenix. Mack recorded 11 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s loss, while Thomas had 10 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 100-99 Las Vegas victory. Both teams have quick turnarounds. Las Vegas hosts Golden State on Sunday, while Phoenix hosts Seattle on Saturday.