Landon Buford
Last week, reigning Rookie of the Year A’Ja Wilson returned to action for the Las Vegas Aces after missing nine games due to a sprained ankle, that she suffered on July 19. The Aces took on the Chicago Sky, and Wilson didn’t miss a beat as she poured in 25 points, eight rebounds, and one assist in 26 minutes a play. Meanwhile, her teammate Liz Cambage also scored 23 points, ten rebounds, and an assist. Helping the Aces collected their 18th victory of the season and clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2014.
The Thursday and Friday before the game with Chicago, Wilson practiced without any restrictions from the training staff, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“Knowing that you can’t do anything about slumps during the game and just being out there with the fans, of course, that had to be the hardest thing,” Wilson said of her absence. “But when you know you’re doing the hard work behind the scenes, you know it’s going to pay off, so you kind of think about those things instead of the slumps.”
Earlier this season, I spoke with Wilson to about how she and Liz Cambage have been able to gel this season.
“We haven’t skipped a beat at all. We are used to playing in each other’s way honest, we are all in other own little space, but now that we are playing with each other we are meshing together and the high-low. When she is up I let her do her thing and when she is down, let her do her thing, and it is vice versa.
That is what it is all about and I think we are so used to being that only post and people can double team us… And we kind of get in our own way, but when we see each other we able to relieve pressure and that is what it is all about. So, it is just a joy to play with Liz and being around her off the court,” said Wilson.
Recently, during a Q&A interview, Cambage responded to the same question on her and Wilson have gelled on the court this season.
I think we are still learning to play with each other. I missed a few games, and. A’ja missed a few games. But I think we’ll get our cohesiveness back again quickly. I think I can take a lot of pressure off of her and she can take the pressure off me.
Earlier this, The Dallas Wings struck a deal with the Las Vegas Aces sending Cambage to Vegas in exchange for Moriah Jefferson, Isabelle Harrison, and their first and second picks in 2020. Cambage is averaging 16.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
