Wilson, Young Lead Aces to Statement Win Over Tempo in First Game Without Smith

A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young Power Aces Past Expansion Tempo in First Game Without Smith

The Las Vegas Aces opened a new chapter in their season with a convincing 93-73 win over the Toronto Tempo, riding a dominant night from A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young in their first game since parting ways with guard Rhyne Howard Smith.

Aces respond emphatically after roster change

In the aftermath of Smith’s departure, Las Vegas delivered one of its most complete performances of the stretch run, setting the tone early and never allowing the Tempo to seriously threaten after halftime.

Wilson anchored the effort with 27 points and eight rebounds, controlling the interior on both ends and repeatedly punishing Toronto in the paint. Young matched that aggressiveness on the perimeter, adding 23 points as the Aces’ offense flowed through their All‑Star tandem.

The 20‑point margin underscored how quickly Las Vegas stabilized following the roster move, with Wilson and Young assuming even more of the scoring and playmaking load.

Context in a tight playoff race

The win came during a critical late‑August slate in which several WNBA contenders, including Las Vegas, Atlanta and Indiana, are jockeying for seeding behind the Minnesota Lynx at the top of the standings.

A recent schedule breakdown noted that:

• All eight playoff spots are already clinched, with Minnesota leading the league and Las Vegas among a cluster of teams fighting for favorable positioning.
• The Aces were highlighted as one of three top‑five teams (alongside Atlanta and Indiana) facing a “major night” of games on August 28 as the regular season enters its final month.

Against that backdrop, Las Vegas’ ability to shrug off the disruption of losing Smith and still produce a wire‑to‑wire performance carries added weight. With the postseason field set but the bracket still fluid, each result for the contenders has immediate implications for matchups and home‑court scenarios.

Wilson and Young set the tone

The Aces’ win over the Tempo was defined by their stars:

• A’ja Wilson: 27 points, 8 rebounds, again asserting herself as one of the league’s most reliable two‑way anchors.
• Jackie Young: 23 points, providing perimeter scoring and balance alongside Wilson’s interior presence.

Las Vegas’ ability to lean on that duo in the first game without Smith suggests coach and front office confidence that the existing core can absorb the loss without a drop‑off in competitiveness.

What it means going forward

With the regular season entering its final weeks and the playoff bracket coming into focus, the Aces’ 93-73 win over Toronto stands out as a timely statement that they remain firmly in the inner circle of contenders.

The combination of a decisive result, standout individual performances from Wilson and Young, and the backdrop of a significant roster change makes this one of the most noteworthy basketball developments of the past 48 hours.