A’ja Wilson Leads Aces Past Tempo 88-78

Opening Summary

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Toronto Tempo 88-78 on Sunday, August 23, with A’ja Wilson leading all scorers with 27 points while adding seven rebounds and seven assists, as Las Vegas built an edge in each quarter at Rogers Arena in Vancouver and improved its record to 26-13.

Las Vegas used efficient overall shooting and a productive interior attack to maintain control throughout the WNBA matchup. Toronto received 19 points from Kia Nurse and connected on 10 three-pointers, but the Tempo could not erase the Aces’ steady advantage.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Aces 25, Tempo 22

Las Vegas opened with a three-point advantage, scoring 25 points to take a 25-22 lead after one. Toronto stayed within range early, but the Aces established the pace with their most productive offensive quarter of the first half.

Second Quarter: Aces 18, Tempo 17

The Tempo trimmed one point from the deficit in the second period, but Las Vegas still won the quarter 18-17. The Aces took a 43-39 lead into halftime, keeping Toronto within reach while preserving their first-quarter margin.

Third Quarter: Aces 23, Tempo 18

Las Vegas created its most important separation after halftime. The Aces outscored Toronto 23-18 in the third quarter, extending the lead to 66-57 entering the fourth. That five-point period was the largest quarter-by-quarter advantage of the game.

Fourth Quarter: Aces 22, Tempo 21

Toronto scored 21 points in the final quarter and matched Las Vegas closely, but the Aces answered with 22 to hold off the late push. Las Vegas did not allow the Tempo to significantly reduce the nine-point deficit it carried into the period.

Key Performers

A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces: Wilson delivered the game’s top all-around performance with 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. She led all scorers and paced an Aces offense that shot 52.3 percent from the field.

NaLyssa Smith, Las Vegas Aces: Smith led Las Vegas with eight rebounds, helping the Aces finish with a 29-28 edge on the glass.

Kia Nurse, Toronto Tempo: Nurse scored a team-high 19 points for Toronto, providing the Tempo’s primary scoring output.

Isabelle Harrison and Kiki Rice, Toronto Tempo: Harrison collected a team-best seven rebounds, while Rice handed out five assists. Toronto finished with 22 assists, matching Las Vegas’ total.

NerdSports Stat: Toronto made twice as many three-pointers as Las Vegas, 10 to 5, but the Aces made 10 more two-point field goals and five more free throws, producing the exact 10-point final margin.

Game Analysis

Efficiency inside the arc was the defining difference. Las Vegas made 34 of 65 field-goal attempts for 52.3 percent, while Toronto went 29 of 66 for 43.9 percent. Although the Tempo held a 10-5 advantage in made threes and shot 37.0 percent from beyond the arc, the Aces consistently generated more value on two-point attempts.

Free throws also favored Las Vegas. The Aces went 15-for-20 at the line, compared with Toronto’s 10-for-12, a five-point difference that mattered in a game decided by 10. Both teams recorded 22 assists, and the rebounding margin was nearly even, so Las Vegas’ shot conversion was the clearest separator.

The Aces’ ability to win all four quarters reflected their consistency. They led by three after the first, four at halftime and nine through three quarters before closing out the result with another one-point edge in the fourth.

Closing Context

The win moved Las Vegas to 26-13 overall and 14-6 on the road, while Toronto fell to 11-26. The Tempo next host the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, August 26, before getting another opportunity against the Aces in Las Vegas on Friday, August 28. That upcoming rematch gives Toronto a quick chance to respond, while Las Vegas will aim to carry its efficient offensive form forward.

Frequently Asked Questions