The Phoenix Mercury were unfortunate to endure A’ja Wilson’s wrath. She dropped 33 points, 11 rebounds and 5 steals, leading the Aces to an 86-76 win. It was her 3rd career game with 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ steals, as per ESPN. All other players in WNBA history have combined to do this 4 times, with no player repeating it. However, despite the record performance and the win, the Aces star revealed some frustration with their past defensive display.

“That’s what we’ve always been talking about. That’s what we’ve been harping on. It has not been the best. It’s actually been the crappiest,” Wilson said in her sideline interview after the game. “For us to bounce back, we have to get involved more. It doesn’t have to come just in stops. It has to come in deflections and steals. That’s how it shows that your mind is really locked in on the defensive side. I’m glad we were able to do that today.”

The Aces had an elite defensive display with a season and franchise high of 18 steals while inducing 22 turnovers. Because of the intense defense, the Mercury had 9 fewer shots as the Aces grabbed 9 offensive rebounds. 

They also managed to take care of the ball better than usual, with just 9 turnovers. For context, they committed 14 against Dallas in the last game. The Aces committed just 13 fouls, conceding 14 free throws, which ultimately was crucial. Importantly, Becky Hammon, who was visibly frustrated and throwing clipboards during the Dallas game, also praised their defensive intensity. 

“A+ in the second half. That was a next-level type of effort on the defensive end. A’ja and Jack, just everybody that came in, did a really great job being disruptive,” Hammon told the media. “We got our hands on a lot of basketballs. 18 steals — I don’t know, it’s got to be some kind of record for us. Just disruptive and active, and that’s what I’ve been asking for. They came out in that second half and really did it at an elite level.”

They were actually struggling in the first half, conceding 49 points on a 125.6 defensive rating. It was their fourth-worst first-half defensive display of the season. But the second half was a completely different team that showed up, preventing the Mercury to 33.3% from the field. 

Now, the team must strive for consistency. The Aces as a team have struggled to defend despite their 11-4 record. They rank 10th in defensive rating with 107.4 and in steals with just 6.4 per game, including this 18-steal game. Hammon’s side has been held afloat by Wilson’s defensive prowess in the paint. 

But the Aces are a slow-burn team. Even last year, they had a poor start but bounced back to win. The experience and talent in this team give them enough rope to iron out the kinks in their armor. The Aces have already proven they do not need to peak early to lift the trophy. But if A’ja Wilson’s warning is anything to go by, their championship defense still has plenty of work left.