A’ja Wilson made her feelings clear on the officiating between the Las Vegas and the Seattle Storm on Sunday. Although Wilson took the charge to lead the Aces to a resounding victory, recording 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots, the showdown was not free from drama. So what irked the Aces standout?
The 3-time WNBA MVP starred in the team’s 75-70 win at the Climate Pledge Arena, but the lack of whistles bothered Wilson. The no-foul calls didn’t sit well with the star, and she took to social media to call out the referees, with a light-hearted twist!
A’ja Wilson Takes A Shot At Officiating — ‘I See How It Is’
Taking to Instagram threads after the game, A’ja Wilson was vocal about the refereeing. “First day of pride & I get no foul calls… ok W ok I see how it’s gonna beeeeee ” she posted.
Despite the lack of calls that Wilson complained about, the refereeing decisions didn’t stop her from having a solid outing on both ends of the floor. But it was not just her — the rest of the team showed up as well.
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Wilson saw some support from Jackie Young, who recorded 12 points, while veteran guard Chelsea Gray, rookie Aaliyah Nye (in a career-defining high), and Jewell Loyd each had 10 points. Earlier, her stellar night against the Los Angeles Sparks saw her break a string of records.
The 6-foot-4 forward/center became the only player in WNBA history to total 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, 3+ steals, and 3+ blocks in a single game — all while becoming the league’s first-ever player to deliver multiple games with 35+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists.
The back-to-back wins saw the Aces improve to 4-2 and take fifth place in the standings. The recent performances come as a good sign after Las Vegas struggled early in the season. Her MVP form has been key as the outfit looks to live up to expectations as title favorites.
Wilson has been a force for the Aces this season, averaging 22.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in six games. Her mammoth numbers, along with her on-court leadership and dominance, have been crucial to the team’s success. With the win over Seattle, the Aces are also off to a winning start to their Commissioner’s Cup run.
They play the Golden State Valkyries next on June 7 at San Francisco’s Chase Center, as part of the in-season tournament, and return home to host two Western Conference outfits — Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury. All eyes will be on A’ja Wilson as she looks to continue her sensational run this season.