Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson lead Aces to decisive 101-78 win over Sun

The Las Vegas Aces overcame a sluggish first half before erupting in the second half to secure a 101-78 victory over the visiting Connecticut Sun on Thursday.

Jackie Young powered Las Vegas with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists, shooting 10 of 21 from the field and 4 of 9 from three. A’ja Wilson, who struggled early, rebounded to finish with 20 points on 9 of 19 shooting.

Reserve Cheyenne Parker‑Tyus delivered a season‑best performance, scoring 18 points on a 4‑of‑5 clip and pulling down nine rebounds.

Olivia Nelson‑Ododa led the Sun with 14 points on 5‑of‑9 shooting. Kennedy Burke added 11 points, matching Leila Lacan, while Charlisse Leger‑Walker contributed 10 points.

Las Vegas improved to 25‑13, ending a two‑game skid, whereas Connecticut fell to 9‑26, suffering its eighth loss in ten games.

A layup by Leila Lacan gave Connecticut a 52‑50 edge early in the third quarter, but Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson ignited a 16‑point run that pushed the Aces ahead 66‑52. Las Vegas never trailed again.

The lead ballooned to as many as 24 points, sealing a comfortable win as the Aces completed a 3‑2 homestand.

Although Jackie Young contributed 15 points in the first two quarters, the Aces entered halftime with only a one‑point advantage.

Connecticut surged to within a single point after the first quarter, then closed the second quarter with a 7‑0 run to cut Las Vegas’ lead to 48‑47. A’ja Wilson’s quiet first half—she posted just seven points on 3‑of‑7 shooting—was a key factor in the Aces’ inconsistent performance.

The Aces opened the game leading 21‑11 after a pair of free throws by Cheyenne Parker‑Tyus, but the Sun countered with a 13‑4 run—fueled by Olivia Nelson‑Ododa and Charlisse Leger‑Walker—to swing the score to 25‑24 before the first quarter ended.

Las Vegas shot 49.3% from the floor compared with Connecticut’s 45.3%, and the Aces dominated the boards with a 40‑23 rebound edge.

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