A'ja Wilson continues playoff tear, takes no added fuel from MVP result - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — A'ja Wilson really wanted to be just the second player to win the WNBA's MVP award in back-to-back seasons. But after a third-place finish in an incredibly tight vote, she said going into Game 2 of the Las Vegas Aces' semifinal series with the Dallas Wings that MVP was not a focus.

«This award — it's a cherry on top of all the mountain of ice cream that we've built up,» Wilson said of the defending champion Aces' success. «The sundae is still good without the cherry. This team still has so much more to do.»

Las Vegas took another step toward that Tuesday night with a 91-84 victory in front of a Michelob Ultra Arena crowd that frequently chanted «MVP» in support of Wilson. She had 30 points and 11 rebounds, becoming the first player in WNBA history to score at least 30 in three consecutive postseason games.

The Aces lead the series 2-0.

«This is playoff basketball; these are the moments that we play for,» Wilson said. «People want to hear: 'Oh, [not winning MVP] is going to fuel her.' But I've been fueled since I stepped foot in this league.»

The No. 1 draft pick in 2018 for the Aces, Wilson was named MVP in 2020 and 2022. Her stats across the board were better this season than last, but the honor went to the New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart, with the Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas finishing second. The Liberty and Sun are tied 1-1 going into their Game 3 on Friday in Connecticut.

Meanwhile, the Aces are hoping for a sweep as they head to Dallas for Game 3 on Friday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN App). The Wings made Game 2 closer than Game 1, which the Aces won by 14 points. But Las Vegas still had the ultimate trump card in Wilson.

«All year, she's been exceptional,» Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon said. «She got