Aces Sweep Connecticut in Back to Back

Game 1 (May 13) — Carter & Wilson bulldoze Connecticut

Chennedy Carter went OFF Wednesday night.

13 of 16 from the field. 27 points. That's the kind of shooting performance that makes you check the box score twice, and it's exactly what the Las Vegas Aces got from Carter in a 98-69 demolition of the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville.

The Aces (2-1) never really let Connecticut breathe after the first quarter. The Sun jumped out to an early 8-6 lead, but Las Vegas answered with a 7-0 run and then tacked on 13 straight Carter putting in 6 of those herself to go up 26-14 by the 2:32 mark of the first. That was the tone setter. Connecticut shot 33.3% in that quarter. The Aces shot 63.2%. It was over before it started.

A'ja Wilson posted her first double-double of the season: 22 points and 11 rebounds. That's double-double No. 121 for Wilson all time, which puts her at No. 5 in WNBA history. She also extended her double-digit scoring streak to 27 consecutive games second longest active streak in the league. Routine greatness at this point.

Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young each added 11. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus chipped in 10 points and 8 boards off the bench. Chelsea Gray and Young ran the offense with 6 assists apiece.

The third quarter put it to bed. The Aces hit 61.9% from the field and pushed the lead past 20 for the first time at 66-46. The fourth quarter was formality Las Vegas extended it as far as 36 points (95-59) before closing it out 98-69.

Connecticut's best player on the night was Aneesah Morrow with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 14. Not enough.

The Aces outscored the Sun 58-34 in the paint and 18-2 on fast breaks. This was a team that locked in and handled business.

Game 2 (May 15) Wilson drops 45, Aces win a dogfight 101-94

If Wednesday was Chennedy Carter's game, Friday belonged to A'ja Wilson. Fully and completely.

45 points. 13 of 13 from the free throw line the most she's ever made without a miss. A 13-5 personal run in the fourth quarter to ice the game. The Aces came back to Uncasville two days later and took a 101-94 win to improve to 3-1, and Wilson was the reason this one got closed out.

This game was not the blowout Wednesday was. Connecticut fought. Six Sun players scored in double figures, led by Hailey Van Lith's 17. The Sun went on an 11-0 run in the third quarter to cut a 13-point deficit all the way to 2 (72-70) with a little over a minute left in the third. For a minute, it felt like things could get real interesting.

Wilson didn't let it. She hit a three, then an and-1, and the Aces went to the fourth with some breathing room.

Connecticut got as close as 7 in the fourth (81-74 at 8:45) and pulled back to 9 (88-79) with 5:30 left. That's when Wilson took over. She went on a personal 13-5 run to make it 101-86 with 1:16 to play. Game.

Carter came off the bench for 18. Jackie Young gave you 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists. Chelsea Gray had a double-double 12 points and 10 assists and the Aces scored 21 points off those 10 dimes alone.

The historical footnote: Wilson now has five career 40-point games, the most all time. She broke a three way tie with Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi who each have four. She's also now scored 45+ points twice in her career only 10 times in league history has anyone done it even once, and Wilson is the only player to do it twice.

She also leapfrogged Tina Charles, Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson on the all time free throw list and sits at No. 5 with 1,483 made free throws.

The Aces have now won their last 10 straight against Connecticut and are riding a 9 game road winning streak dating back to last season.

Up next: Atlanta on Sunday, May 17 at 10:30 a.m. on NBC. The Dream are 2-0. It's going to be a good one.