Aces star A’ja Wilson to miss Lynx game with sprained ankle
Aces standout A’ja Wilson won’t play against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday after spraining her left ankle Friday night against the Seattle Storm, the team announced Saturday.
The Aces did not provide a timetable for her return, and Wilson did not respond to a request for comment.
The second-year forward collided with teammate Liz Cambage in the third quarter of a 69-66 road loss to the Storm, collapsed to the floor and grabbed her left ankle. The training staff attended to her on the court during a stoppage of play before escorting her a few minutes later to the locker room.
She did not return.
The team announced the injury as an ankle sprain Friday night, and Aces coach Bill Laimbeer speculated after the game that it’s a high ankle sprain, which usually carries a recovery timetable of six to 12 weeks.
Wilson played in all 33 games last year and hadn’t missed a game this season while helping the Aces to an 11-6 record, the WNBA’s second-best mark. She’s averaging a team-high 15.4 points to go with 6.6 rebounds and shoots 48.2 percent from the field while teaming with Cambage to form perhaps the league’s best frontcourt.
Wilson was voted a captain for next Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Her status for the game is uncertain.
Backup forward Dearica Hamby could start Sunday’s home game in Wilson’s place. Hamby is averaging 9.2 points on 50.4 percent shooting and 6.2 rebounds as one of the top candidate’s for the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year Award.
After Sunday’s game, Las Vegas concludes the first half of the season Tuesday by hosting Seattle.
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Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.
Game day
Who: Minnesota Lynx vs. Aces
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center
TV: KVMY-12
Radio: KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM)
Tickets: Starting at $24 on axs.com
About the Aces (11-6): They no longer have the WNBA's best record, but they are still its best defensive team. They allow a league-low 90.4 points per game and are holding opponents to a league-low 37.8 percent shooting.
Liz Cambage is coming off a 16-point, 14-rebound outing and averages 15.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. Kayla McBride scores 14.4 points per game and shoots 48.4 percent from 3-point range.
About the Lynx (10-8): They were struggling earlier in the season, but have won six of their past nine games.
Odyssey Sims is averaging a team-high 15.1 points to go with 5.4 assists. Syliva Fowles is still one of the league's most formidable post presences, averaging 14.3 points and 9.9 rebounds. Napheesa Collier is one of the league's most productive rookies, averaging 11.2 points and 5.9 rebounds.
