Another game, another record for Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.
The WNBA MVP frontrunner, just minutes into the Aces’ 85-72 win over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night, broke the league’s single-season rebounding record. That came just days after Wilson both set the league’s single-season scoring record and became the first player in WNBA history to score more than 1,000 points in a season.
Wilson entered Tuesday’s game at Climate Pledge Arena just two rebounds shy of matching the single-season rebounding record — which Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese set earlier this season.
After two quick rebounds on the defensive end in the opening minutes, Wilson grabbed her third off a missed 3-pointer from Storm guard Skylar Diggins-Smith just after the midway point of the period to officially break the record.
With this rebound, A’ja Wilson now has the most rebounds in a single season in WNBA history 💪
1. A’ja (447 and counting)
2. Angel Reese (446; this season)pic.twitter.com/TJv9bBXBo7— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 18, 2024
Reese racked up 446 rebounds this year before she went down with her season-ending wrist injury. Reese is still leading the league with 13.1 rebounds per game despite her injury, which is more than one full board per game better than Wilson. Those two are the only players in the WNBA averaging double-digit rebounds per game. Both of their season averages are the two highest in WNBA history. Former Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles held the previous record with 404 rebounds during the 2018 campaign.
Wilson is the overwhelming favorite to earn WNBA MVP honors this season, which would be the third of her career. She entered Tuesday’s game averaging a league-high 27 points per game, which is nearly five full points more than anyone else in the league. She’s also averaging 12 rebounds and a league-high 2.6 blocks per game. Wilson is averaging 21 points per game across her career, too, which is tied with Cynthia Cooper for the best scoring output in league history.
Wilson finished with 21 points and seven rebounds in the 13-point win on Tuesday night, which pushed the Aces to 26-13 on the season. They are in fourth in the WNBA standings, a spot ahead of the Storm, and a full game back from the Connecticut Sun. The Aces, who have won eight of their last nine games, will end their season on Thursday against the Dallas Wings.
