Aces' Winning Streak and Team Milestones
Key Questions
What was the Aces' record after their recent games?
The Aces moved to 18-7 after wins over Toronto (109-83) and the Valkyries (92-73), placing them third in the standings.
What notable wins did the Aces achieve in July?
They defeated Portland 88-80 on Wilson's return and Phoenix 106-58, matching the third-biggest win in WNBA history and setting a franchise record for margin of victory.
How did the Aces perform against Toronto on July 20?
The Aces won 109-83 with Wilson scoring 26 points including three threes; coach Sandy Brondello was suspended for the game.
What injury or roster news affected the Aces recently?
Kelsey Plum remains out longer, Chennedy Carter was waived, and rookie Justine Pissott had a record debut welcomed by Wilson's Toy Story backpack tradition.
What concern has been raised about the Aces' team performance?
Analyses note the team's overreliance on Wilson despite her brilliance, which could be a flaw heading into the second half of the season.
What was the Aces' result against the Fever on July 13?
The Aces suffered a 109-75 blowout loss after a back-to-back, following strong wins over Portland and Phoenix earlier that week.
What midseason projections exist for the Aces?
Predictions project the Aces as a top seed but with a potential Finals loss to the Lynx, amid ongoing searches for championship form.
How did A'ja Wilson react to Toronto fans?
Wilson expressed genuine surprise at the warm reception from Toronto fans during the July 20 game, describing it as a positive human moment amid her dominance.
Aces (18-7) lost to the Fever 109-75 on July 13, a blowout after a back-to-back. Prior to that, they beat Portland Fire 88-80 on July 10 (Wilson's return game) and Phoenix Mercury 106-58 on July 12, matching the third-biggest win in WNBA history and setting a franchise record for margin of victory. Wilson had 21 points, 15 rebounds in the Mercury win. The win avenged the season-opening blowout loss to the Mercury. Rookie Justine Pissott had a record debut and was welcomed by Wilson with a Toy Story backpack initiation tradition. Kelsey Plum is out longer; Chennedy Carter waived. Midseason predictions project Aces as top seed but Finals loss to Lynx. A viral slo-mo video of Caitlin Clark's step-back three over Wilson from the July 13 loss has gained attention, and Clark is managing a back injury with a minutes restriction. Wilson's honest postgame confession about accountability has added a leadership narrative to the team's response. On July 15, the Aces won 84-79 behind Wilson's 20-20 game, bouncing back from the loss. A game preview for Aces vs. Toronto (line -10.5) highlighted Wilson's 20-point game in the loss and set up a bounce-back opportunity. Coach Sandy Brondello was suspended for the Toronto game. The Aces faced Toronto on July 20 and won 109-83, with Wilson scoring 26 points and hitting 3 threes. Wilson expressed genuine surprise at the warm reception from Toronto fans. They followed with a 92-73 win over the Valkyries on July 21, moving to 18-7 and third place. Wilson leads the league in scoring (25.5 PPG) and has a strong rebounding streak, with betting props highlighting her rebounding. A new analysis points out the Aces' overreliance on Wilson as a potential flaw, despite her brilliance.